Today is Friday the 13th

This Day In History: Today is Friday the 13th, something that happens during any month that begins on a Sunday. The fear of the number 13 is called "triskaidekaphobia" and the fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia. Most present two sources for the origin of the Friday the 13th superstition: 13 at dinner during the Last Supper (thank you Judas), and the arrest of hundreds of Knights Templars on Friday, 13 October 1307. Another origin story comes from Norse mythology, because, at a banquet in the Valhalla, Loki, the Scandinavian God of Strife and Evil, made himself the 'thirteenth' guest, where he killed Balder, the God of Peace.

Some say Heavy Metal was born on Friday the 13, 1970, with the UK release of Black Sabbath's self-titled debut album, considered the first true Metal album by many.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt avoided travel on the 13th day of any month, and would never host 13 guests at a meal.

In Paris you can hire a "Quatorzieme," or professional 14th guest for dinner.

According to Cora Linn Daniels, "The Turks dislike the number 13 to such an extent, that they have almost expunged the word from their vocabulary."

Up to 21 million people in the United States are affected by a fear of Friday the 13th, so much so that they avoid their normal routines in doing business, taking flights or even getting out of bed. According to John Roach: "It's been estimated that $800 or $900 million is lost in business on this day"

See also Superstition of the Number Thirteen by EJ Jones 1906
https://thebookshelf2015.blogspot.com/2015/10/superstition-of-number-thirteen-by-ej.html

Examples of Popular Superstition by the J. I. Mombert 1886
https://thebookshelf2015.blogspot.com/2015/11/examples-of-popular-superstition-by-j-i.html

The Number 13 & Other Superstitions - 100 Books to Download
https://thebookshelf2015.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-number-13-other-superstitions-100.html

Lucky and Unlucky Numbers by Cora Linn Daniels 1903
https://thebookshelf2015.blogspot.com/2018/04/lucky-and-unlucky-numbers-by-cora-linn.html

Buy : Halloween and the Strange in Story and History for 99 cents (50 Chapters) and Buy this Kindle book on Amazon on Vampires and Werewolves for only 1.99