The Devil on the 13th Floor

I used to think the Japanese were impossibly superstitious, what with their bean throwing to cast out evil spirits and their insistence that nothing come in groups of 4, because it, you know, symbolises death and all.

But I'd forgotten about one of the west's endearing little quirks - buildings with no Floor 13. It took me ages to work out why I only have to walk up one floor to go from the 12th Floor to the 14th...

Useless Trivia #1275613
Some say the superstition of bad-luck #13 comes from Judas Iscariot, the 13th apostle, who betrayed Jesus for some coin (30 of them, in fact) and a few flaming lamborghinis with Satan.

Others say it dates back to Norse mythology when Loki, the nigel-no-friends 13th guest crashed a piss-up of 12 gods in downtown Valhalla.

Those with a more "modern" perspective point to the ill-fated Apollo 13 as a source of their fear.

Useless Trivia #1275614
The irrational fear of the number 13 is "triskaidekaphobia" and fear of Friday the 13th is called "Paraskevidekatriaphobia" aka "whatthefuckisjasondoinginthetoolshedagain".

Useless Trivia #1275615
* More than 80 percent of high-rises don't have a 13th floor.
* Many airports have no 13th gate and airplanes have no 13th aisle (does that mean Japanese airplanes have no 4th aisle???)
* Many cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue.
* The number 13 is omitted from the Italian national lottery.
* In Florence, the house between number 12 and 14 is addressed as 12 and a half.
* If you have 13 letters in your name, go straight to hell. Do not pass go, do not collect your flaming lamborghini on the way down. You will have the devil's luck . Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all have 13 letters in their names.

As does my husband...