Friday the 13th Facts

DID YOU KNOW !?!??

According to Smithsonian Magazine "fear of the #13 costs American a billion dollars per year in absenteeism, train and plane cancellations, and reduced commerce on the 13th of the month."

*

Fear of Friday the 13th dates back to Nordic Mythology. Many of their thirteenth Gods met with violent deaths, such as Loki, the trickster.

*

Ancient Romans regarded the number 13 as a symbol of death, destruction and misfortune.

*

Lizzy Borden uttered a total of 13 words at her trial.

*

There were 13 original colonies.

*

A witches coven consists of 13 members.

*

Tarot Card number 13 is the Death Card, depicting the Grim Reaper

(although it is read as transition or change and not literal death).

*

Hotels rarely have a room number 13. Usually it is called 12a or 14. Same with floors of buildings and the elevators without a #13 button. Highways sometimes will skip exit 13 altogether also.

*

There are 13 steps leading to the gallows.

*

13 knots in a hangman's noose.

*

13 feet which the guillotine blade falls.

*

The driver of Princess Diana hit pillar #13 at Place de l'Alma when she was killed in Paris, France.

*

13 people, Christ and his 12 disciples, were in attendance at the last supper. This is where the Christian belief ties in, making Friday a believed unlucky day, as the crucifixion occurred on a Friday.

*

Certain ocean liners will be held in dock until after midnight to appease passenger's fears on Friday the 13th.

*

British study concluded that even though there were less cars on the road on Friday the 13th

(as compared with other Fridays) more accidents were reported.

*

Triskaidekaphobia is the technical name for fear of Friday the 13th.

*

Apollo 13, 1970, the 13th mission launched from pad #39 (13 x 3), mission was aborted, after an explosion occurred in the fuel cell of their service module. The rocket had left launching pad at 13:13 CST and the date was April 13th.

*

Epluribus Unum has 13 letters.

*

The US Seal has 13 stars, bars, feathers in the eagle's tail, 13 bars in one claw, 13 olive branches in the other.

*

A "quatrorzieme" is a professional 14th guest hired by the French who had only 13 guests in attendance for dinner, who felt that was unlucky.

*

The Chinese, Pagans and others in ancient times marked time by the lunar cycle and calendar, thus 13 was considered a very lucky number.

*

In Jewish culture, a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is celebrated when a young adult turns 13 and is the onset of maturity. Again the number 13 is thought to be lucky.

SOURCE: GOOGLE