Fun facts about friday the 13th!

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It's Friday the 13th today. Strangely, this day has always been lucky for me. Just today, I found my keys I've been looking for everywhere! There's tons of superstitions and silly beliefs associated with this notorious day. Here's a few interesting ones I compiled:

The fear of Friday the 13th is called 'paraskevidekatriaphobia' 


Most people avoid marrying on Friday the 13th. In 1913, Friday the 13th, in Middletown, New Jersey, a pastor let couples marry for free as he condemned the day. ( Source )

It was in believed in ancient Rome that witches supposedly flocked together in groups of 12, while the 13th member was the devil himself!

Houses between the number 12 and 14 is numbered as 12 and half on streets in Florence, Italy.

 People with 13 letters in their name have the devil's luck. Examples include:Theodore Bundy, Albert De Salvo, Jack the Ripper,Jeffrey Dahmer, and Charles Manson who have 13 letters in their names.

According to a Norse myth, 12 gods having a dinner party in their heaven, Valhalla, had an uninvited 13th guest, Loki. There, the god of joy, Balder the Beautiful was shot by the blind god of darkness, Hoder.This was planned by Loki. Balder's death caused Earth to go dark and the entire earth to grieve on this day. ( Source )

Why are black cats seen as unlucky?

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This superstition derives from the Dark Ages (medieval times), known for witch hunts. Mostly, elderly women who lived alone were the ones deemed as witches and they kept black cats as their pets, which people thought were the witches' "familiars", meaning evil animals that the devil sent them.

 There's also another myth involving the devil transforming himself into a black cat when he mingles with witches. Sad fact: I head that black cats are the least adopted pets in shelters!! Fortunately, most people don't believe that black cats bring misfortune. I had great luck the one time I crossed a black kitty so I go out of my way to cross their path if I ever see one! In fact, in England, Ireland and Scotland, black cats are seen as bringers of good fortune when they cross your way. ( Source )