The Unluckiest Day of the Year: Why We Fear Friday The 13th

 Do you suffer from triskaidekaphobia?  Well you do if you're freaked by the number 13. Many people are very superstitious about the number, and hotels and hospitals often skip the number 13 and go straight to 14 when numbering floors, because of the genuine terror and anxiety that these two digits can cause. The fear is actually rooted in religion, according to  Stuart Vyse, a professor of psychology at Connecticut College in New London. Speaking in The National Geographic, Vyse stated that the superstitions around the day arose because Judas (the apostle who supposedly betrayed Jesus) was the 13th guest at the Last Supper, and Jesus himself was crucified on a Friday. Another reason people fear the number is that historically it was believed a coven of witches had 13 members.(Mental Floss) Witchcraft was a major source of anxiety and fear in centuries past. Interestingly, psychologists maintain that superstitions actually sometimes help people feel like they are more in control of their lives: '"Superstitions are attempts to understand and even control fate in an uncertain world. "When you have rules and you know how to play by them, it always seems a lot easier."' However experts also agree that although superstitions can offer comfort to people who feel like the things that happen to them are out of control, it's important to distinguish between outcomes you can and can't predict. (Psychology Today) Main image: IGN