Friday the 13th, the most unlucky day

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ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — Black cats, ladders and broken mirrors — Friday the 13th is upon us.

But what makes this Friday the 13th different than previous years is that this is the third Friday the 13th in 2012. The previous two took place on January 13 and April 13.

The dates are exactly 13 weeks apart — something that hasn’t occurred since 1984.

But why is this day different than any other day?

Some historians believe that it was dubbed the “most unlucky day of the year” because 13 men attended the last supper and Jesus was crucified on a Friday, while others think that the number 13 has always been unlucky.

Whether you believe it or not though, try not to step on any cracks, don’t forget your rabbit’s foot and above all — stay away from men in hockey masks.

According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in North Carolina, more than 17 million people fear Friday the 13th and between $700 billion and $800 billion are lost every Friday the 13th because people don’t want to travel or purchase major items on the unlucky day.

The unluckiness of the number 13 has also led many hospitals and hotels to skip the 13th floor and even airports omit gate 13 sometimes. Some cities also do not have a 13th Street or 13th Avenue.

As if the day hasn’t got people scared enough, Paramount Pictures made a horror movie in 1980 entitled, Friday the 13th. Its tagline: “Fridays will never be the same again.”

Tags: friday the 13th, news, unlucky