One in six adults believe Friday the 13th poses the greatest risk of bad luck and consider it unluckier than black cats , broken mirrors and spilled salt.
It also emerged seven in ten wouldn't risk walking under a ladder for fear of bringing bad luck and two thirds have even 'touched wood' to ward off any future mishaps.
Tupac died on a Friday 13th in 1996 and on this date during the Blitz Buckingham Palace was bombed. Kitty Genovese was also murdered on this unlucky day as no one called for help, in a phenomenon that became known as the Bystander Effect.
Fear of Friday 13th even has its own name - Paraskevidekatriaphobia - and it even costs businesses up to £585m.
The number 13 has always been seen as a bit of an oddity while 12 has been seen as a number denoting 'completeness.' There were 12 Gods of Olympus and 12 hours of the clock. There are also 12 months in a year and the equivalent number of signs in the Zodiac, as well as 12 Apostles of Jesus. And, you apparently need 13 witches to form a coven.
There are a number of popular myths and superstitions surrounding the day, most famously:
- If you cut your hair on Friday the 13th, someone in your family will die.
- If a funeral procession passes you on Friday the 13th, you will be the next to die.
- Do not start a trip on Friday or you will encounter misfortune.
- If you break a mirror on Friday the 13th, you will have seven years of bad luck.
- A child born on Friday the 13th will be unlucky for life.
- Ships that set sail on a Friday will have bad luck.
- If you walk under a ladder or if a black cat crosses you on Friday the 13th, you will have bad luck.