Not only is today Friday the 13th, but for those in the Eastern Time Zone, at precisely 12:11 a.m.,the date coincided with a full moon, and was as well seen in Asia, Africa, Europe and South America, as well as in the Eastern Time Zone, saw a June 13 true full moon.

Everybody else west of Eastern Daylight Time enjoyed the actual full moon June 12.

Myriad media reports say the rare event pairing won't happen again 35 years -- or will it?

According to a posting at Mashable, which in turn relayed information from Slate.com, people in New Zealand and also the eastern tip of Asia will see a full moon on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, although those on the rest of the planet will see the on Thursday, Jan. 12 of that year. Most of the United States will see the two events line up again on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, while that full moon will fall on Saturday, Sept. 14, for most of the rest of the world.

But, regardless the moon pairing for not, Friday the 1th3 is a curious date long steeped in tradition and associated bad luck, while being genuinely feared by people across the globe.

Folklorists say Friday the 13th is likely the most widespread superstition in America and is the focus of a particular type of phobia, paraskevidekatriaphobia.

Many Chrisitians consider Friday the 13th unlucky because that's the day Jesus was said to be crucified, but Hindus also apparently believed it unlucky for 13 people to gather in one place.

The Vikings, meanwhile, tell a story about how 12 gods were invited to a banquet at Valhalla, the hall of the dead, when Loki, evil god of mischief and the 13th deity to show up at the feast, managed to bring about the death of Balder, the god of light and purity.

Early Christians got into the habit of relating Friday to a number of rather unfortunate events, including: Eve offering Adam the forbidden apple of knowledge in the Garden of Eden; Abel's murder by his brother, Cain; the stoning of St. Stephen; the Massacre of the Innocents by Herod; the Great Flood; and the destruction of the Temple of Solomon;

Another legend has it that the Knights Templar, the mysterious order of knights charged with defending the Christian faith, were rounded up to be tortured and executed by King Philip IV of France on Friday, Oct. 13, 1307.

Aside from Friday the 13th history, according to the Website Superstitions.com there are a variety of beliefs associated with the day, including:

  • It is not good to be born on Friday the 13th, as it means bad luck for life;
  • It is not good to change your bed on Friday the 13th because you will have bad dreams;
  • One who passes a funeral procession on Friday the 13th will die the following day;
  • On Friday the 13th, one should not cut their hair, or else a family member will die;
  • One should not do not cut your nails on the day either, or else bad luck will follow;
  • One should not start a new job or business on Friday the 13th;
  • If someone travels on Friday the 13th, problems will follow;
  • Ships should not set sail on Friday the 13th, to avoid sinking.

So, enjoy the rest of your Friday 13.