Unraveling the Mystery: Understanding the Fear of Friday the 13th

• It is said to be an unlucky day, but it has nothing to do with a horror movie franchise
• The fear of Friday the 13th goes back 13 centuries
• Western culture associates the number 12 with completeness, which makes 13 an unlucky number
• The number 13 and its unlucky roots might come from an ancient text called the Code of Hammurabi
• It is also tied to Christian religion in a way, as the 13th guest to arrive at the Last Supper was the man who betrayed Jesus, Judas Iscariot
• In Norse religion, the mischievous God Loki was a 13th guest at a dinner in Valhalla which upset the balance of the 12 Gods already in attendance
• The fear of Friday the 13th has led to a significant loss of business on this day, as people avoid flying or conducting business
• Despite this, it is a great day to buy a plane ticket with cheaper than normal fares according to one study.