Friday The 13th

I am so sure you've all seen the 1980 movie "Friday The 13th" (And others with the similar title). You know just how horrifying that movie is. What if it happens in real life? I hope not...

Friday the 13th is a date considered unlucky, or "malas" in Filipino, by a lot of people. people consider the number 13 as unlucky that is why it is almost never present, non-existent even, in hotels, office buildings and other establishments.


But you know what? They're just fooling themselves. The 13th floor they mark as 14th? It's still the 13th floor! The joke's on them XD

Pair with Friday, which is the most unlucky day of the week according to superstitions, and you've got yourself a day full of disaster. well, that's according to them.

The truth is, it's just a day that place, when the first day of every month falls on a Sunday.

Yep. You read that right. Every month that starts on a Sunday is bound to have  Friday the 13th (e.g., January 1 = Sunday, January 13 = Friday).

This year alone has 3 occurrences of Friday the 13th. January 13, April 13 and July 13.


Had it not been a leap year, the only months that will have Friday the 13th on them are the months of January and October.


Now, what is with this weird fascination with the"unluckiness" of Friday the 13th?  

The truth? It's an absolute superstition!

In Italy, 13 is a very lucky number. What's unlucky for them is Friday the 17th!


In Spanish-speaking countries, Tuesday the 13th is considered unlucky.

The earliest known documented reference of Friday the 13th in English occurs in Henry Sutherland Edwards' 1869 biography of Gioachino Rossini, who died on a Friday 13th.

Another fact, driving on Friday the 13th is safer, well, at least in the Netherlands (according to a study), simply because people don't get out as much in fear of getting themselves into an accident.
 
Friday the 13ths are inevitable. The 13th of the month is more likely to fall on a Friday than any other day of the week as shown by this diagram:

The distribution of the 13th day over the 4,800 months is as follows:

Day of the week	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Number of occurrences	687	685	685	687	684	688	684

Bottom line: 

Friday the 13th is here to stay, no matter what you say. 

For the superstitious: I know. It's tough. You're screwed. Deal with it! XD

I mean, today's my birthday and do you hear me complaining? :D