Never walk under a ladder, watch out for black cats crossing your path, don’t shatter a mirror…the list of superstitions for Friday the 13th is endless! In honor of this day, I thought I’d do some research on the things we are all so afraid of.

First off, I thought this was VERY interesting: in the U.S. alone, an estimated 17 to 21 million people suffer from a fear of Friday the 13th. Who knew?

According to ibtimes.com, the phobia known as friggatriskaidekaphobia, is not uncommon. The word comes from “Frigga,” the name of the Norse goddess for whom “Friday” is named, and “triskaidekaphobia,” or fear of the number thirteen. It is also sometimes called “paraskevidekatriaphobia,” from the Greek “Paraskevi” for Friday, “Dekatreis” for thirteen and “phobia” for fear.

In the Gregorian calendar, Friday the 13th always occurs at least once a year and can appear up to three times in any one year.

There a ton of superstitions for this day, with some of the most popular being:

•If you cut your hair on Friday the 13th, someone in your family will die.

•If a funeral procession passes you on Friday the 13th, you will be the next to die.

•Do not start a trip on Friday or you will encounter misfortune.

•If you break a mirror on Friday the 13th, you will have seven years of bad luck.

•A child born on Friday the 13th will be unlucky for life.

•Ships that set sail on a Friday will have bad luck.

Check out the rest of the info about this day by clicking HERE!