Today is Friday the 13th. As you probably know, people traditionally believe this day brings bad luck. But did you know that this widely held superstition actually has a negative impact on our economy?
The Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute estimates that nearly $900 million of revenue is lost each Friday the 13th because so many “Paraskevidekatriaphobics” (that’s the term for people who fear Friday the 13th) refuse to go about their normal routines because they are paralyzed by fear.
Here at Eastern State, we’ve actually found that the relatively rare occurrence of Friday the 13th in October can actually be good for business when your annual fundraiser is a haunted attraction.
Personally, I’ve actually never found Friday the 13th to be unlucky. Maybe it’s because I’m not that superstitious. I’ve owned a black cat, walked under ladders (which I admit is probably not safe) and stayed on the 13th floor of hotels. In fact, 13 is my lucky number. So today, I’ll be going about my normal routine. Do you have any special plans? Tweet us at @easternstate and let us know how you’ll be spending the day.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, the next Friday the 13th in October won’t occur until 2017. But for fans of Terror Behind the Walls, we do have a special deal today on our online store – All Terror Behind the Walls t-shirts are on sale for just $13 each, and there’s no additional cost for shipping!
Brett Bertolino
Director of Operations
