Why are we afriad of Friday the 13th?
Written by Amelia Naismith Tuesday, 17 January 2012 12:43
Earth continues to rotate despite last Friday being Friday the 13th.
There is an estimated 60 million people worldwide who are affected by
friggatriskaidekaphobia or paraskevidekatriaphobia, both names for a fear of
Friday the 13th.
In the United States alone, each Friday the 13th, about $750 million will be
lost in business because so many people are afraid to shop or travel. Others
will not leave their homes on this day, or even get out of bed.
The superstition regarding Friday the 13th is thought to be a combination of
two older superstitions: the belief that the number 13 is unlucky and the
belief that Friday is an unlucky day.
Friday is considered to be unlucky because it is often associated with Black
Friday. Also, according to the Christian scripture, Jesus Christ was crucified
on a Friday.
According to numerology, 12 is considered to be the number of completeness
because of the 12 months of the year, the 12 zodiac signs and the 12 numbers on
the clock, So, therefore 13 is considered unlucky because it comes after 12 and
disrupts it’s balance.
There are also superstitions deriving from ancient Norse myths and the Last
Supper. According to these events, the arrival of a 13th dinner guest means
death.
According to National Geographic, 12 gods sat down at dinner. Loki, the god of
mischief, was the 13th guest. He convinced Holder, the blind god of darkness,
to shoot Balder, the god of joy and gladness.
According to those who trace Friday the 13th back to the Last Supper, there
were also 13 people in attendance. It was Judas, the apostle and betrayer of
Christ, who was said to be the 13th guest.
Superstitions involving Friday the 13th include: if you have dinner with 13
people one of those people will die within a year, if you cut your hair on
Friday the 13th someone you love will die and if a child is born on that day
they will have an unlucky life.
According to the Gregorian 400-year cycle, Friday is the most common day for the 13th to fall on, which is unfortunate for those afflicted with the phobia.
Friday, however, is not the only feared day of the week. In Spain, Greece and
Latin American countries Tuesday the 13th in considered unlucky and in Italy
it’s Friday the 17th.
