Does Friday the 13th give you the creeps?
Friday the 13th is believed by many folks to be unlucky. But where does that belief come from?
It's Friday the 13th, and for many Canadians, that means being just a little on edge - avoiding black cats, skipping cracks in the sidewalks, or maybe even staying away from ladders.
Whether you see it as just another day or a reason to be extra careful, Friday the 13th has earned a reputation as one of the most superstitious dates on the calendar.
So, why all the fuss?
The fear of the number 13 - called triskaidekaphobia - has deep roots. In many Western cultures, the number is seen as unlucky, so much so many hotels don't even have a 13th floor.
Over the years, the day's spooky reputation has been fuelled by pop culture. The 1980 horror movie Friday the 13th, along with its many sequels, helped cement the idea that something bad might happen when the date rolls around.
Jean-Francois Martel, author and host of the Weird Studies podcast, told CTV News in a Friday interview the date is linked to religious symbolism.
'It comes from the story of the bible, as we all know, Christ was crucified on a Friday,' he said. 'The number 13 is seen as unlucky for a bunch of reasons, one of them is that at the Last Supper... there were 13 guests, and in a lot of fairy tales you'll find that if there are 13 guests at a dinner it's always a bad thing, it's like one too many.'
Still, there's no scientific proof the day is more dangerous than any other.
For those who fear the date, take comfort in knowing that in 2025, there is only one Friday the 13th - today. However, next year, the ominous date falls on the calendar three times: in February, March and November.
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