Earth continues to rotate despite last Friday being Friday the 13th.
There is an estimated 60 million people worldwide who are affected by friggatriskaidekaphobia or paraskevidekatriaphobia, both names for a fear of Friday the 13th.
In the United States alone, each Friday the 13th, about $750 million will be lost in business because so many people are afraid to shop or travel. Others will not leave their homes on this day, or even get out of bed.
The superstition regarding Friday the 13th is thought to be a combination of two older superstitions: the belief that the number 13 is unlucky and the belief that Friday is an unlucky day.
Friday is considered to be unlucky because it is often associated with Black Friday. Also, according to the Christian scripture, Jesus Christ was crucified on a Friday.
According to numerology, 12 is considered to be the number of completeness because of the 12 months of the year, the 12 zodiac signs and the 12 numbers on the clock, So, therefore 13 is considered unlucky because it comes after 12 and disrupts it’s balance.
There are also superstitions deriving from ancient Norse myths and the Last Supper. According to these events, the arrival of a 13th dinner guest means death.
According to National Geographic, 12 gods sat down at dinner. Loki, the god of mischief, was the 13th guest. He convinced Holder, the blind god of darkness, to shoot Balder, the god of joy and gladness.
According to those who trace Friday the 13th back to the Last Supper, there were also 13 people in attendance. It was Judas, the apostle and betrayer of Christ, who was said to be the 13th guest.
Superstitions involving Friday the 13th include: if you have dinner with 13 people one of those people will die within a year, if you cut your hair on Friday the 13th someone you love will die and if a child is born on that day they will have an unlucky life.
According to the Gregorian 400-year cycle, Friday is the most common day for the 13th to fall on, which is unfortunate for those afflicted with the phobia.
Friday, however, is not the only feared day of the week. In Spain, Greece and Latin American countries Tuesday the 13th in considered unlucky and in Italy it’s Friday the 17th.