Posted By Bill Elliott Just a thought - Is it a bit like why you buy eggs in 12's or multiples thereof. I have always been led to believe that they were sold in "long hundreds" ie 120 to take account of the fact that a number were likely to be broken and of no use - only paid for 100 though. There's also "a bakers dozen" where an extra one was made to (again) take account of failures, the "failures" were often sold on in their imperfect state hence "unlucky" for some. I am sure there are equally valid old wives tales and/or folk lore to support unlucky 13 - it will be interesting to read others views.

Posted By Ian Mycroft Richard I too think it has Christian origins, but I heard that it was to do with there being 12 diciples plus Jesus makes 13, an unlucky number to be sat at the last supper. If he was crucified on Friday 13th it adds strength to the belief that the number 13 is unlucky. Ian

Posted By Michelle Driscoll However, the Death card in a tarot pack is not always unlucky - it can also mean change. Gypsy Rose Driscoll

Posted By Jim Walker I never go shopping except to DIY shops. Leave all that to the Mrs, after all it is women's work.

Posted By Paul Bellis The number 13 is usually associated in a bad way with events on Fridays some historians trace the Christian distrust of Fridays to the church's overall opposition to pagan religions. Friday is named after Frigg, the Norse goddess of love and sex. This strong female figure, these historians claim, posed a threat to male-dominated Christianity. To fight her influence, the Christian church characterized her as a witch, vilifying the day named after her. This characterization may also have played a part in the fear of the number 13. It was said that Frigg would often join a coven of witches, normally a group of 12, bringing the total to 13. A similar Christian tradition holds that 13 is unholy because it signifies the gathering of 12 witches and the devil. OH Frigg.........? the fear of the number 13, called triskaidekaphobia, by the way its amazing what you learn on this web site!

Posted By Simon Dean Here's some more useless information for you, but more or less the same as what some of you have said. Superstitions that surround Friday have been buzzing about since the Ancient Romans dedicated the sixth day to their goddess Venus. The Norsemen, when naming their days, followed the Roman tradition, and named the day after their own goddess, Freya. This eventually evolved into Friday and was considered to be the luckiest day of the week. Christians consider Friday to be the day on which Christ was crucified, and Muslims believe that Adam was created on a Friday, and later died on a Friday as a result of eating the forbidden fruit, also on a Friday. The Scandinavians believed that the number 13 would bring bad luck due to the mythological 12 demigods being joined by a 13th, an evil one, who brought misfortune upon humans. In the Christian faith, the number of guests at the party of the Last Supper was 13, with the 13th guest being Judas, the traitor. When taking both the crucifixion of Jesus and the place of Judas at the Last Supper into consideration, it is little wonder that the Christians believed Friday 13th to be a day of especially bad significance. Incidentally I wrote my car off in a accident on a Friday 13th ……….

Posted By Ken Taylor Well, someone had to do the 13th response in order to assert disbelief in the superstition.

Posted By peter gotch of course in some cultures, eg chinese 13 is seen as a lucky number. P

Posted By Hilary Charlton Nice one Mark!

Posted By Ian Bruce 13 is the number of times you can walk under a ladder before......! This is irrespective of whether or not you are holding a rabbits foot. Of course, it's very unlucky for the rabbit whatever the circumstances!