Conquering Friggatriskaidekaphobia: The Fear of Friday the 13th
Say it with me: “I am not afraid of Friday the 13th.”
Did you say it? If you did, you get a gold star. Well done!
If you were able to say that out loud and actually believed the words you said, you have conquered Friggatriskaidekaphobia, or the fear of Friday the 13th.
Seventeen to 20 million people in the United States are afflicted by this fear, according to a study that was conducted by the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina.
The number 13 has been thought to be an eerie number for centuries: as a numeral, the number 12 has been typically thought of as a number of completeness. There weren’t 13 apostles, there were 12; there are not 13 hours on the clock, there are 12; and there were not 13 gods of Olympus, but 12.
Bad things have happened on Fridays such as Black Friday and the crucifixion of Jesus which occurred on a Friday. Additionally, in a work of fiction entitled The Da Vinci Code (brilliant), Friday the 13th was associated with the Knights Templar and its superstition.
In fact, people are so superstitious, they will not fly on Friday the 13th and it costs the airline industry millions of dollars.
Friggatriskaidekaphobia can alter people’s lives. I have many fears, but not this one. Do you believe that a number can bring bad luck? And if so, do you believe in other crazy superstitions? Are you of the mindset that if you break a mirror you will have seven years of bad luck; that if you walk under a ladder or open an umbrella in your house you will encounter bad luck; or that if you kiss or touch a toad you will get warts?
The other night a black cat ran in front of my car. It actually brought good luck for the cat; I slammed on my breaks to avoid hitting and killing it and it lived. Perhaps it was living its 13th life.
Happy Friday the 13th everyone. If you feel yourself battling Friggatriskaidekaphobia, you may want to hunt down a rabbit’s foot or a four-leaf clover or turn your clothes inside out to bring yourself some good vibes today.
(source for this piece: Wikipedia)
7 Comments
courtney
The bad things that happen on Friday the 13th are a result of events that transpire on Thursday the 12th, which I consider the understated day of concern.
Steph's Scribe/Stephanie Verni
Courtney,
That one made me laugh OUT LOUD! Very funny. Though had the cat run out in front of me on the 12th, I wonder if he would have met a deadly fate.
🙂
Dawn Greenman
Nice blog Stephanie! I remind myself every Friday the 13th there is nothing to fear and, I am usually right. Then my 21 year old daughter recently announced her engagement and sharing they’d like to wed in May of 2013. I instantly cringed and said, “are you SURE you want to get married in 2013?”. She may think I am nuts but I wonder if the year 2013 will find far less people walking down the aisle..except perhaps on 1/12/13.
My eldest son just shared he, too, plans to pop the question but plans to wait for 2014 for his nuptials.
It makes sense actually; my daughter likes a good challenge where my son, like his mother, prefers not to tempt fate!
Happy new year!
P.S. I know my hubby, Ron, is missing Anthony and Matt this year in Resurrection Basketball!
Steph's Scribe/Stephanie Verni
Thanks for the comments, Dawn! It is interesting how different folks interpret the number 13.
We are missing seeing everyone at RSPS, too! Say hello to everyone for us!
Traci
I love this because I find 13 to be a fantastic number! My husband and I bought our house on a Friday the 13th. We also got married on the 13th, but it was a Saturday. I bet that would make some people crazy!
Steph's Scribe/Stephanie Verni
Traci,
Keep it up! 13 is apparently your lucky number!
🙂
Steph's Scribe/Stephanie Verni
Reblogged this on Steph's Scribe and commented:
Another Friday the 13th is upon us. Here’s a post I wrote about Friday the 13th and its superstitions.