Today is Friday the 13, which is largely considered to be an unlucky day given the superstitions surrounding the event. This is the first of three this year, two of which will occur this semester. Although there are usually more than one in a year, the next one will be occurring on the April 13, which is exactly 13 weeks from now.

For those who decided to skip class and huddle on the couch all day, you’re probably not alone. According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute, somewhere between 17 and 21 million Americans have a phobia of Friday the 13. In fact, the chronic fear of Friday the 13 is known as friggatriskaidekaphobia, or paraskevidekatriaphobia.

It’s not altogether surprising, given the media attention to the day, horror films and archetypes are based around the oddity of the number 13. Several notions have led to the idea, considering the 13 people eating at the last supper and norse mythology that claims that it is also unlucky to dine with 13 people.

Even the imbalance in the 13 months in lunar calendar, versus the Gregorian 12, is still a cause for some strange imbalance. Even some buildings are built without a 13th floor, (whether it is a maintenance floor, or it is simply labeled as the 14th floor).

Also, there have been a few fateful events in our history that occurred on Black Friday, the stock market crash and the death of Tupac. Former President George W. Bush even choked on a pretzel and nearly lost his life 10 years ago today, which wasn’t a friday, but was fateful nevertheless.

It doesn’t hurt that many people are predicting that there won’t even be a 2013. So whether you’re a chronic sufferer of friggatriskaidekaphobia, or just a bit cautious, at least try to enjoy the first Friday the 13 of the year.