Friday the 13th
Why do we fear Friday the 13th so much? Why do we think it’s so unlucky? What made us so paranoid and superstitious? Why is it unlucky only for some? Why don’t we know why?
Well it’s like one of those fake news sits that tell us thing that many of us believe to be true but aren’t. Because of tradition many of us believe that Friday the 13th is the unluckiest day ever. There is even a word for the fear of the day and date which is paraskavedekatriaphobia and this year, 2017 we have 2 of them! Friday January 13th and again October 13th. I never saw it as unlucky because I was 13 on Friday the 13th (cue the smart comments haha)
Anyway so where did the idea of Friday the 13th come from? Many believe that it comes from religion. Jesus was crucified on a Friday and there were 13 at the last supper. In 1307 King Phillip the 4th of France arrested and tortured hundreds of Knights Templar. It seems that 13 is the number of witches you need to form a coven and the fact that 13 is an irregular number doesn’t help either (mind you isn’t a baker’s dozen 13?).
Many buildings, the world over, haven’t a 13th floor. Hotels often have no room number 13 and the same can be said for aeroplanes!
Now I’m not a superstitious person by any means or form but statistics show that people are more careful on Friday the 13th than any other day. Research in Holland showed that traffic incidents were down and there were fewer burglaries. Mind you if you want to get married on Friday the 13th you will probably get the hotel reception for a fraction of the normal price because let’s face it how many people do you know got married on Friday the 13th?
So the answer as to where the fear of Friday the 13th comes from is we don’t know, it’s pure superstition.
My advice is forget the auld superstitions and go out and live your life! Have a great day folks and remember that Friday the 13th means that Saturday is the 14th and it’s the weekend!
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