Friday the 13th, a day with superstitions you either avoid or embrace. For those of you a little skeptical on whether the day is truly unlucky, consider this…

1. On Friday the 13th in January of 2012, the Costa Concordia partially sank. It was an italian cruise ship that had struck the rocky seabed, killing 33 people and injuring 64. It is recognized as one of the worst cruise ship disasters in modern times, costing hundreds of millions in lawsuits, insurance claims and recovery.
2. Theme parks, of which we have many in Texas are slower on Friday the 13th than other Fridays. If you aren’t superstitious and were heading to Six Flags this Friday, consider yourself lucky that you can avoid the crowds and lines!
3. Are you risking a flight on the 13th or delaying your trip? According to the Aviation Safety Network, a database of all passenger airline accidents reveals from 1945 to 2013, 2,288 deaths occurred. Comparing normal Fridays to Friday the 13th days, the chances of a crash were fewer, perhaps that’s due to less passengers on those days! Out of 118 days on Friday the 13th, eight flights crashed and four were all in October.
4. In recent years, humane shelters run specials on Friday the 13th, where black cats and dogs can be adopted without fees.
5. Insurance companies in the U.S. haven’t found a correlation in accidents, natural disaster claims or deaths on Friday the 13th. Although Progressive did find a much higher risk of accidents on Black Friday.
6. Friday the 13th is an unlucky day in western culture. In East Asia, the number four is unlucky with the worst day of all being April 4th.
7. The Fear of Friday the 13th is a phobia and is called Friggatriskaidekaphobia.
8. The Stress Management and Phobia institute estimates 17 to 21 million people in the US suffer from a Fear of Friday the 13th.
9. From the same institute, estimates point to a loss of $800 to $900 million on Friday the 13th. This is due to the superstitious, forgoing travel and shopping and staying indoors.
10. In 2015, there were three Fridays on the 13th. In 2016, we only have this week!
11. Superstitions on this most unlucky of days include: not walking under ladders, avoiding stray black cats and not changing your bedsheets.
12. Many wedding venues report a difficulty in getting couples to tie the knot on Friday the 13th. Would you do it?
13. Today! Friday the 13th in May of 2016, there is also a full moon.