Paraskevidekatriaphobia:

[Pete27]

Friday the 13th is a great cop out for f*** ups that take place on that day....

end of

[earthangel]

I've been led to believe that the number 13 is very auspicious in most places untouched by so-called civilization, and has been for centuries. The unlucky connotation stems, I think, from attempts by the Christian church to demonise pagan traditions which attached some importance to the date. (Someone more knowledgable will hopefully be able to corroborate or correct me on this).

[damian_steele]

The problems with the date appear to stem from numerous sources, but of which none can definitively claim to be the one and only, or even the main, source of the problem.

Some claim that 13 is unlucky because the 13th apostle, being Judas, caused such problems for a certain JC. Others claim that the date relates in someway to the downfall of the Templar knights. Others make vague references to witches' covens. But the reality is that the paranoia is self imposed.

[earthangel]

It's self imposed only to the extent that people allow themselves to be persuaded by other sources. I'm sure that if TV and newspapers stopped running features on "Friday the 13th" many people would simply forget it and if they refrained from mentioning it to their children, we'd soon have a generation completely free of the superstition.

[razamakaz]

Well, I had a really great Friday 13th. I can post this now that it's past midnight

[dragonmist]

My 3rd daughter was born on Friday the Thirteenth. It never bothered her or me.