The last Friday the 13th is here. We explain how the superstition came to be and how many more 13th are in your future.

Friday the 13th is widely considered an unlucky day, rooted in centuries-old superstitions from Norse mythology and Biblical traditions. Both Friday and the number 13 have long been regarded as symbols of bad luck in Western cultures.

The trickster god Loki showed up uninvited as the thirteenth guest and orchestrated the ‘murder by mistletoe’ death of Balder the Beautiful, god of light and gladness. Balder’s death brought grief to the world and solidified the bad vibes of the number thirteen. Fateful feasts continue in the Christian tradition.

Friday the 13th, is the dreaded day on the calendar to watch out for ladders and black cats and even worse for those that suffer from Triskaidekaphobia, a diagnosis term for those afraid of the number 13.