here's sth interesting abt friday the 13th, which is today ha:
did you know…
‧ 17 TO 21 MILLION Americans & 4 to 5 million in the UK, suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia (wat da? :smile_27: couldnt it be longer!) - the fear of Friday the 13th?
‧ it has been estimated that 750 MILLION DOLLARS will be LOST in business because people will not shop, travel or take risks of any kind on this Friday the 13th?
‧ that the U.S. NAVY to this day will NOT LAUNCH a ship on Friday the 13th?
‧ that OVER 85% will RISK THEIR LIVES rather than walk under a ladder?
‧ symptoms range from mild anxiety and a nagging sense of doom to full blown panic attacks?
‧ SOME WILL NOT EVEN GET OUT OF BED or leave their homes this Friday the 13th?
‧ that most other superstitious fears show up on or around Friday the 13th?
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FRIDAY THE 13TH - how is fear of the number thirteen demonstarted?
‧ More than 80 percent of high-rises lack a 13th floor.
‧ Many airports skip the 13th gate.
‧ Airplanes have no 13th aisle.
‧ Hospitals and hotels regularly have no room number 13.
‧ Italians omit the number 13 from their national lottery.
‧ On streets in Florence, Italy, the house between number 12 and 14 is addressed as 12 and a half.
‧ Many cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue
‧ In France, socialites known as the quatorziens (fourteeners) once made themselves available as 14th guests to keep a dinner party from an unlucky fate.
‧ Many triskaidekaphobes, as those who fear the unlucky integer are known, point to the ill-fated mission to the moon, Apollo 13.
‧ If you have 13 letters in your name, you will have the devil’s luck . Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all have 13 letters in their names.
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It’s bad luck to:
‧ Cut off both ends of a loaf of bread.
‧ Put new shoes on the table.
‧ Leave your hat on the bed.
‧ Walk under a ladder.
‧ Lean a broom on a bed.
‧ Open an umbrella indoors.
‧ Sneeze to your left side.
‧ Have a black cat cross your path.
It’s good luck to:
‧ Cut your finger nails on a Friday to avoid a toothache during the month.
‧ Take candy to a friend during your first visit of the New Year.
‧ Pick the first violets of spring.
‧ When you set the table, place the salt down first.
‧ If you drop a spoon, expect friends to drop by soon.
‧ If your left hand itches, money will come to you.
‧ When you move to a new house, take a broom and a loaf of bread with you.
‧ Put a red bow on a newborn baby.
‧ Don’t sweep dust out the front door or you’ll sweep away good luck.
‧ Make a wish when you see the first robin of spring. If it doesn’t fly away before you finish wishing it’ll come true.
