You know it was Friday 13th last week? (And yes, I had a bad day.) Did you know that the subject warrants its own page on Wikipedia?

Firstly, Friday the 13th is observed by many, many countries. But in a few, Greece and Romania, for example, it is Tuesday 13th. In Italy, it is Friday 17th. This totally blows the superstition out of the water, because it’s roots are in the fact that Friday is scary and the number 13 is scary. Given that differing countries believe in the 17th or a Tuesday, this is ruined.

The fear of Friday 13th is known as paraskavedekatriaphobia, which I think is actually physically impossible to say. Try it.

Notable Births on Friday 13th: Margaret Thatcher, Fidel Castro, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. That explains a lot.

Related superstitions:

• If 13 people sit down to dinner together, all will die within the year.
• If you have 13 letters in your name, you will have the devil’s luck.
• Never change your bed on Friday, it will bring bad dreams.
• Don’t start a trip on Friday or you will have misfortune.

Here is what I know – there is no number 13 car in Formula 1. And there was no 13th deck on the ship we went on in April.

Here is something else I know – it has been known for me to have a good Friday 13th, and therefore this superstition is bunkum.

However, I still wouldn’t want to sleep on the 13th deck of a boat.