ENID, OK - Do you have paraskavedekatriaphobia? You do if you have a fear of Friday the 13th. Friday the 13th has long been regarded as an unlucky or evil day even though no one is absolutely sure where that idea originated.
-
We know that both Friday and, separately, the number 13 have long been considered unlucky and it was around the late 19th century that the first documented instances started popping up of people putting the two together to form the unluckiest day of all.
-
There's no logical reason to fear the occasional coincidence of any day and date especially Friday the 13th. The fear of of this date may be rooted in religious beliefs surrounding the 13th guest at the Last Supper—Judas, the apostle said to have betrayed Jesus—and the crucifixion of Jesus on a Friday, which was known as hangman's day.
-
There's an old wives' tale that, at a dinner table of 13 people, one person shall die, which is a superstition that dates all the way back to Norse mythology with Balder and the god Loki. Legend also says that on a Friday the 13th in 1306, King Philip of France burned the revered Knights Templar at the stake, marking the occasion as a day of evil.
-
The number 12 has always been thought of as a "complete" number: There are 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 Gods of Olympus, 12 sons of Odin, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, etc. Because it is seen as irregular and disrespectful of a sense of perfection, the number 13 bears the stigma of misfortune and bad luck we know today.
-
The fear of the number 13 has lead some people to avoid staying in hotel rooms with the number 13, are leery of the 13th floor of any building or try not to sit in the 13th row of an airplane. It is also considered incredibly bad luck to have 13 people sitting at a table for dinner.
-
Buck the trend and make Friday the 13th your lucky day with a good attitude and a relaxed approach to the day. Not believing in bad luck is a good approach because research has shown that people who believe in bad luck tend to bring it on themselves.
-
Mark the day by organizing some fun with friends. Go to an event, eat out, visit a club or go to a movie. And spend part of the day counting your blessings. So, grab your lucky charm and enjoy the day!
-
-
Make Friday the 13th Your Lucky Day
