Freaky Friday the 13th Facts

Mohahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It tiz the first of three Friday the 13ths this year. The next one is in March, and again in November. If you fear the superstitious day, you're not alone. Napoleon, Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt all were Triskaidekaphobic, which is a fear of 13.

FDR takes the gold medal for being a Friday the 13th nut case. He refused to travel on the 13th day of any month, and would never host 13 guests at a meal. Speaking of din din, in Paris you can hire a quatorzieme, or professional 14th guest. How do I get that gig!?

The number 13 is associated a lot with death. For example:13 steps leading to the gallows, 13 knots in a hangman's noose and 13 feet from which a guillotine blade falls.

The names of several infamous murderers contain 13 letters:

• Jack the Ripper
• John Wayne Gacy
• Charles Manson
• Jeffery Dahmer
• Theodore (Ted) Bundy

Triskaidekaphobia costs nearly $1 billion every year in employee absenteeism, cancelled trips and reduced commerce.

By the way, the fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskavedekatriaphobia.

Interestingly, 13 is considered good luck in Italy!