Fear of Friday the 13th to Celeb Deaths: 13 Facts You Didn’t Know

Many people have araskavedekatriaphobia (also known as friggatriskaidekaphobia), or fear of Friday the 13th.

Here are 13 facts about Friday the 13th:

Getty Images/Flickr Open Friday the 13th Philippe Lissac/Photononstop/Getty Images Many people are scared of Friday the 13th but it’s not clear where the superstition originates. Some believe it stems from the Biblical Last Supper, in which the unlucky 13th guest, Judas, betrays Jesus. Getty Images/DeAgostini Another Biblical belief is that Cain killed his brother, Abel, on Friday the 13th. Getty Images/Flickr Open If you have triskaidekaphobia, or fear of the number 13, you likely also have araskavedekatriaphobia — fear of Friday the 13. Dr. Donald Dossey, a folklore historian, estimates that 17 to 21 million people suffer from triskaidekaphobia. Getty Images Some numerologist believe the number 13 is considered unlucky because of its relation to the number 12. Numerologists consider 12 a “complete” number: 12 months in a year, 12 apostles, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 hours on a clock. Getty Images/EyeEm According to National Geographic, more than 80 percent of highrise buildings avoid having a 13th floor. Hospitals skip the 13th floor and many hotels skip having a room No. 13. Some airports even skip having a gate 13. The “Friday the 13th” movie franchise is going strong, despite many peoples’ fears. Since the first film premiered in 1980, the franchise’s 12 films have grossed more than $380 million at the box office worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. Getty Images Some symptoms of the phobia of the number 13 range from anxiety to all-out panic attacks. Many people will skip work on Friday the 13th. The number 13 is considered lucky by some. For pagans, it represents the number of full moons in a year. Getty Images Historian and founder of the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina, Donald Dossey, told National Geographic, “It’s been estimated that [U.S.] $800 or $900 million is lost in business on this day because people will not fly or do business they normally would do.” JASON DECROW/INVISION/AP Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen were born on Friday the 13th in 1986. Other celebs include Steve Buscemi, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kate Walsh and director Alfred Hitchcock. Perhaps that explains his obsession with psychological thrillers? Getty Images/Flickr RF For some, the only answer to the day is to lock themselves in their homes and avoid contact with the outside world.