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They say that 13 is unlucky for some and Friday the 13^th is the undisputed boss of unlucky days, so we’ve had a delve into some strange facts about freaky Friday.

Nobody knows for sure where all the superstition has come from but it is said to date back to biblical times when the 13^th guest at the last supper betrayed Jesus (who also died on a Friday), by the middle ages both the number 13 and Friday were considered bearers of bad fortune.

Here are some facts as to why Friday the 13^th has become the most superstitious days of the year.

• Over 60 million people worldwide are afraid of Friday the 13^th, causing people to stay at home, not drive or even get out of bed.

• There was a British Navy ship named Friday the 13^th, which left the docks on Friday the 13^th and was never heard of again. Although there have been rumours saying this story is a hoax.

• A lot of hospitals have no room 13 and some tall buildings skip the 13^th floor.

• Fear of Friday the 13^th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia and has been known to affect over 17 million American and the fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia and the number is said to be unlucky because it follows the number 12, considered a complete number as there are 12 months in a year, 12 zodiac signs, a dozen is 12 among many others.

• Hollywood has used Friday the 13^th to its advantage and has created many Friday the 13^th movies, including the 12 films in the Friday 13th franchise.

• Friday is said to be the day that Eve tempted Adam with forbidden fruit and Jesus Christ was crucified.

• On Friday, April 13^th 2029 the asteroid 99942 Apophis will make its closest encounter with earth.

• According to Norse legend if you sit 13 people around a dinner table, one will die within a year (this also is perpetuated by the story of Christ’s death).

• If you have 13 letters in your name then you will get devil’s luck.

• In Spanish speaking countries Tuesday 13th is considered unlucky rather than Friday.

• The Turkish hate the number 13 so much that it is actually band from their vocabulary.

• In Florence, Italy the house between 12 and 14 is numbered 12 and a half.

• On a more positive note a 2008 Dutch study showed that fewer car accidents, fires and crime occurs on Friday the 13th.