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Although most people approach Friday the 13th with a sense of amusement, there is a significant portion of the population that feels apprehensive as this "unlucky" day draws near. Is there any basis in reality for this fear?

First, a little history. And a lot of speculation. It is thought that the belief in Friday the 13th as a day of bad luck is actually the combination of two different superstitions. The number 13 and the day Friday were each considered, separately, to be bad luck.

There are a number of theories attempting to explain each superstition. For the number 13, my favorite is a Norse myth. As the story goes, 12 gods had gathered for a dinner party at Valhalla (their heaven). Loki, the Evil One, was not invited but showed up anyway, becoming the 13th guest. Loki manipulated events so that Hoder (the god of darkness), who was blind, would shoot Balder the Good (the god of joy and gladness) with a mistletoe spear. Balder died and the earth went dark. It was a very bad day, and the number 13 became synonymous with bad luck.

In a similar vein, Judas was the 13th guest at the last supper. Some believe that the 13th member of a witch's coven was originally the devil. The number 13 just can't seem to catch a break.

As for Friday, its poor reputation was probably based in early Christianity. Friday was actually a holy day for the pagans, and was considered a lucky day. It was traditionally associated with love and fertility, making it a popular day for marriage. The early Church, wanting to eradicate all things pagan, had to cast the day in a black light. It is believed by many that it was on a Friday that Eve tempted Adam with that infamous apple. And, of course, the crucifixion took place on a Friday. By the middle ages, Friday had become known as the "Witches' Sabbath."

All in all, there are many beliefs and theories about the origins of the "bad luck" associated with both Fridays and the number 13. Where the superstitions first started will probably never be completely known, but it's fun to speculate.

At some point that is even less clear, the two bad luck symbols converged to present Friday the 13th as an especially ominous day. One theory has become quite popular since the publication of The Da Vinci Code. This theory states that it was on a Friday the 13th that King Philip IV of France had the "warrior monks" of the order of the Knights Templar arrested and jailed. Of course, no evidence of Friday the 13th being considered unlucky can be found prior to

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