Top five Friday the 13th incidents
July 13th, 2012
02:54 PM ET

Top five Friday the 13th incidents

Whether you're just a little more cautious today because of various Friday the 13th superstitions, historically, the day hasn't always turned out to be, well, normal.

Here's our wrapup of the top five worst Friday the 13ths.

In 1939, the Black Friday brush fires began in Australia. The fires ended January 20. They left 71 people dead, 1,000 people injured and 3,000 homeless.

In October 1972, the Andes flight disaster left 16 survivors after two months.

In January 1989, the Friday the 13th virus struck hundreds of IBM computers in Britain.

In 1996, Tupac Shakur died September 13 of gunshot wounds sustained a week earlier.

And in January, the Costa Concordia cruise ship ran aground on the island of Giglio, Italy, killing at least 30.

Today, as part of our coverage, CNN Radio's new Soundwaves blog is also featuring a podcast about tempting fate on this date, as well as a little history of how the superstition came to be. It also questions the kind of experiences people have had on this rare day.

The Belief Blog also has a breakdown, written by Connecticut College professor Stuart Vyse, exploring why exactly we fear Friday the 13th and how superstitions manifest themselves.

It's also National French Fry Day, so do with that what you will.

Let us know how your Friday the 13th goes, and what superstitions you have in the comments below.

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Filed under: Friday the 13th
soundoff (124 Responses)
  1. Mercenary For Hire

    Oh, come on now, do you mean to tell me Jason Voorhees did not make the top 5 list? For shame, for shame...LMAO...

    July 13, 2012 at 3:53 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Rascal Rabble

    wow that is bad luck...your boyfriend took your money and car and went out with the delivery guy...

    July 13, 2012 at 4:11 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Rascal Rabble

    c'mon you guys no such thing as friday the thirteen...

    July 13, 2012 at 4:14 pm | Report abuse |
  4. bobcat2u

    What does a Redneck woman say after s@x on Friday the 13th? Get off me Dad, you're crushing my smokes!

    July 13, 2012 at 4:17 pm | Report abuse |
  5. chrissy

    Really fake banasy?? Maybe if you werent a fraud he wouldnt have run off with your purse.

    July 13, 2012 at 4:42 pm | Report abuse |
  6. banasy©

    Friday the 13th has absolutely no impact on what I do differently than any other day...

    July 13, 2012 at 4:44 pm | Report abuse |
    • pottsmlp

      Friday the 13th has had an impact on me – in fact – it is my birthday!!!!!!!!!!

      July 13, 2012 at 5:25 pm | Report abuse |
  7. chrissy

    @ bobcat, EWWWW!

    July 13, 2012 at 4:45 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Obama Mama

    bobcat, agree with chrissy, just ewwwww.

    July 13, 2012 at 4:47 pm | Report abuse |
  9. banasy©

    Sorry, ladies, that wasn't bc.
    No hat.

    July 13, 2012 at 4:50 pm | Report abuse |
    • bobcat (in a hat)©

      @ banasy©

      Thank you for knowing that wasn't me. I just got back on here and saw that. I haven't used that handle in eons.
      I can't believe two of my favorite ladies ewwwed me for that.

      July 13, 2012 at 8:32 pm | Report abuse |
  10. D Rock

    Just another example of the leftist lib Obama and his team trying to brainwash Friday the 13th...

    Romney/Palin 2012

    July 13, 2012 at 5:04 pm | Report abuse |
    • pottsmlp

      Your logic is flawed - you need to seriously get help –

      July 13, 2012 at 5:27 pm | Report abuse |
  11. bannana

    thats horible but I had to walk to my friends one day before our band concert i got there and right in front of his house there was a ladder... infront his front door. i had to go under it. i got my music and went to the concert. as soon as we started playing our clarinet wasnt playing. it was a horrible concert ...

    July 13, 2012 at 5:06 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Ross

    R.I.P. Tupac! lol

    July 13, 2012 at 5:14 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Ace

    Don't forget Apollo 13. Launched at 13:13 hours, due at the moon on april 13th Now that's just asking for it!

    July 13, 2012 at 5:14 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Eric

    D Rock....really? How deluded has FOX news made you to think Obama has anything to do with Friday 13th? Craziness with a capital C and Z.

    July 13, 2012 at 5:15 pm | Report abuse |
  15. anony

    What about when Jason Vorhees killed his mom or something at Crystal lake on Friday the 13th? I think thats more scarier than the Concordia.

    July 13, 2012 at 5:22 pm | Report abuse |
    • LLsillyone

      Mom Betsy Palmer? She was the original killa.

      July 13, 2012 at 5:42 pm | Report abuse |
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