Friday the 13th

Have a happy Friday the 13th.
More than 60 million people worldwide claim to be affected by a fear of Friday 13th. Some of them won’t go to work, drive cars or get out of bed on this day. Many hospitals have no room 13, while airports don't have a Gate 13 and a lot of hotels don't have a floor 13. The official word for the fear of Friday 13th is paraskevidekatriaphobia.

The Scandinavian belief that the number 13 signified bad luck sprang from the 12 demigods who were joined by a 13th demigod, Loki was a cruel one, who brought upon humans great misfortune. Loki crashed a party at Valhalla disguised as an old hag. Valhalla was the "banquet hall of the gods." There were 12 guests present at the hall until Loki arrived, Loki the
trickster Norse God was the 13th guest, the affair turned grim when Balder the son of Odin, the God of light, joy, and reconciliation died when Loki tricked Balder's sightless brother Hod into throwing a spear of mistletoe at him, the only thing on earth that could kill Balder. By doing this he brought about Ragnarök which will be doomsday when the Norse Gods fight Loki and their enemies and Odin will finally get his revenge on Loki but by doing this he will bring about the end of the world, bringing in a new dawn.

On a Friday 13th in 1307 thousands of soldier monks of the powerful Knights Templar were massacred by French king Louis IV. Many people believe this is where our fear of the date springs from. The Pope of the church in Rome in Conjunction with the King of France, carried out a secret death warrant Against "the Knights Templar". The Templar's were terminated as heretics, never again to hold the power that they had held for so long. The Grand Master Jacques DeMolay was arrested and before he was killed, was tortured and crucified, this was carried out on Friday 13th and there were 13 Templar's.

In Spanish-speaking countries, Tuesdays dated the 13th not Fridays are considered unlucky. In Italian culture, Friday the 17th is considered unlucky.

The number 13 appears many times on the U.S. $1 bill there are 13 stars, 13 stripes, 13 steps, 13 arrows and even has an olive branch with 13 leaves on it. Also There were 13 colonies in British North America. There are 13 stars and stripes on the original American flag.

From a religious standpoint, Muslims tout Friday as the day Allah created Adam, legend has it that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit the apple on a Friday and later died on a Friday and Christians consider Friday as the day on which Christ was crucified by the Romans. Also the number 13, in the Christian faith is the number of guests at the Last Supper with the 13th guest at the table being the traitor Judas. When Christians combine this day and number the combination can only hold special significance. In Judaism The Bar Mitzva is held at age 13 on a Friday the Jewish Sabbath day. The Bible lists 13 attributes of God.
There are also 13 Witches to a Coven. Which is true for many traditional Covens. But not all.