In April, when the last Friday the 13th occurred, the unpopularity of Friday the 13th was even more apparent. On Friday, April 13, there were 1,764 weddings, only slightly higher than the Friday of the previous week, 1,449. It's not clear when or why Friday the 13th became associated with bad luck. That date was already selected by another couple that was admittedly hesitant over the superstition around Friday the 13th. Fittingly, director of psychological thrillers Alfred Hitchcock was born on the 13th — Friday, Aug. 13, 1999, would have been his 100th birthday. So whether you vow to never play the number 13 in a lottery or declare that 13 is your lucky number just to go against the grain, the stigma surrounding the number still influenced your decision. Jason Shukovsky, director of catering for The Crystal Plaza, a private mansion in Livingston, N.J., said Friday the 13ths are "a big more challenging to sell" so the company may offer a discount of 10 to 15 percent. It's considered unlucky to have 13 guests at a dinner party, many buildings don't have a 13th floor and most people avoid getting married or buying a house on a day marked by this dreaded number. Follow LiveScience for the latest in science news and discoveries on Twitter @livescience and on Facebook.
– Good news for those with paraskevidekatriaphobia: It's the last Friday the 13th of the year, and if you learn to say that word—meaning fear of Friday the 13th—you'll get rid of your fear, according to a superstition relayed by NPR. But is there any truth behind the fear? A study in the early 1990s suggests so: Researchers found that "the risk of hospital admission as a result of a transport accident may be increased by as much as 52%" on a Friday the 13th, according to Life's Little Mysteries. That study, however, was "written with tongue firmly in cheek," notes an author, although authentic data were used. Later studies have been mixed, with some data suggesting women experience more accidents on the date, and others rejecting the idea entirely. Ridiculous or not, the superstition certainly has real-world effects: Many avoid the date for weddings, prompting some wedding-related businesses to give Friday the 13th discounts, notes ABC News. And one stress-management group figures that up to $900 million may be lost because of people's avoidance of flying and other normal activities on the date, LiveScience reports.