Friday 13 July 2012

Is Friday the 13th really unlucky?

For some people the fear of Friday the 13th (friggatriskaidekaphobia) is a day to panic, a day to cancel appointments, a day to stay in bed. The superstition is widespread and actually consists of two superstitions, a fear of the number 13 (triskaidekaphobia) and a fear of Friday (friggaphobia). Both of these fears have their real origins lost in the folk-lore of Northern Europe.


According to numerologists the number 13 has a bad reputation because it is the first number after 12, the number that is whole perfect and harmonious. If we look at the Lunar Calendar for instance we get 12 perfect months and one incomplete month, the 13th month. The list goes on.

Triskaidekaphobia is so deep seated in our psyche that the number 13 is avoided at all costs. Some house-numbers are changed to 12A, there is no room 13 in hotels, and many high rise building don’t have a floor 13. Unfortunately changing the name doesn’t change the fact that there is a house, room, floor 13.

According to psychologists the fear of Friday the 13th is irrational and is worse in people that are very superstitious. Many accidents are caused because there is an expectation by friggatriskaidekaphobics for an accident to occur. The advice to those suffering from friggatriskaidekaphobia is to think positive thoughts, concentrate on being lucky (buy a lottery ticket), look on the bright side of things and take control of your future. If that fails, burn all your socks with holes in, or eat some gristle while standing on your head.

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