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998 was a very bad year, especially for people
who believed the number 13 is an unlucky
number. In 1998, three
months had a Friday that
fell on the 13
th
of the month--February, March, and
November. That is actually the most Friday the 13
th
s
possible in a year.
The origin of the number 13 being an unlucky number goes back to the time
of Jesus’s death. At the last supper, Jesus gathered
his twelve followers for a
special meal, but including himself, there were a total of 13 people at the table.
One of those followers later betrayed Jesus and turned him over to be killed.
Today, superstitions about the number continue to worry people. As a
result, most American skyscrapers do not have a 13
th
floor. In addition, most
airplanes lack a 13
th
row because few customers would buy tickets to sit there.
Perhaps surprisingly,
when asked, only 13 percent of the American population
admit they believe that Friday the 13
th
is an unlucky day. The percentage is slightly
higher among young people. About 30 percent of Americans between the ages of
eighteen and twenty-four say they try to generally be a little more careful on a
Friday falling on the 13
th
. Interestingly, the nine
movies of the horror series
Friday the 13
th
were all released during this age group’s formative years (1980-
1993). Perhaps the series has had a greater effect on people than anyone would
like to admit.
