Thirteen Club
Quick Summary
The Thirteen Club was an American society founded in the late 19th century by Captain William Fowler. Its primary purpose was to challenge and break superstitions associated with the number thirteen. Members deliberately engaged in actions considered unlucky, such as spilling salt or opening umbrellas indoors, to defy these taboos.1
The fear of the number thirteen, known as triskaidekaphobia, has various theories regarding its origin, including associations with the Last Supper or ancient mythology. However, documented references to this fear in print are relatively recent, dating back to the late 1800s.2
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