13 things you need to know about Friday the 13th

The origins of the anxiety surrounding Friday the 13th, commonly known as paraskevidekatriaphobia, has been lost in the mists of time. Some claim a connection with the Last Supper, where Jesus was seated at the table with 12 apostles, for a total of 13 guests. It was the day after this last meal, a Friday, that Christ was crucified.

The most plausible explanation is that, until 1907, there was no particular association between Friday the 13th and bad luck. That year, a novel titled Friday, the Thirteenth was published, and thus began the fear of the unusual day.