Friggatriskaidekaphobia: The Fear of Friday the 13th
Happy Friday the 13th everyone! As we prepare for the weekend ahead of us I wanted to take a few moments and talk about this particular day and what makes it so special. Growing up, I’m sure you have all heard about or even been nervous about the thirteenth day of a month that happens to fall on a Friday…that superstition, that thought that bad omens or luck that will befall all as potential disaster lies just moments away all throughout the day. You might be wondering how this superstition has woven itself into the fabric of our lives and why so many are literally paralyzed with fear and are incapable of not only leaving their home but who are afraid of getting out of bed on a day such as today. As always, I am writing to inform and not to judge, if Friday the 13th causes your level of concern to skyrocket to the stratosphere, then you my friend are not alone and there is no judgement or condemnation on my end.
Friday the 13th gained a great deal of attention as a day of ill luck early in the 19th century as various literary works used that day as the anchor to create havoc within those books but it was those books that awakened the notion that both Fridays and the number thirteen were both bad luck. Friggatriskaidekaphobia (I know, it’s a mouthful) is the fear of Friday the 13th. Frigga is the name of the Norse Goddess of whom Friday is named after (for centuries Friday was considered a day of bad luck). The number thirteen has long been a number that has been associated with ill omens and events and thus the fear of the number 13, triskaidekaphobia, has been felt by countless numbers for thousands of years, this belief can be traced back to ancient Babylonia in 1700 B.C. Throughout history, 12 has been considered a number of completeness but 13 a number of trouble, the 12 tribes of Israel, the 12 Descendants of Muhammad, the 12 Apostles of Jesus, the 12 Gods of Olympus, 12 months in a year and the pattern goes on and on. Twelve is complete, thirteen is out of balance…unlucky. During Medieval Age, Friday the 13th became a day to be feared as the Christian church recounted stories of how there 13 people at the last supper and how Christ died on a Friday. These fears were further engrained the leadership of the Knights Templar, the one-time guardians of the holy lands, and a multitude of their following were rounded up on Friday, October 13, 1307 and accused of an array of crimes including consorting with the devil and were put to death.
Even though there have been many pop culture books and movies over the years that seem to feast on the fears of those who dread this day, there seem to be some positive that come from this fear. According to one study by the insurance industry, the occurrences of auto accidents are lower on Friday the 13th as compared to any other Friday as drivers tend to be more careful on the 13th in hopes of fending off the possibility of bad luck striking while driving. Some people say they are immune to superstitions because they don’t believe in them but I’m of the thought that we all are a little superstitious about something…thousands of years of human conditioning is bound to rub off on us a little bit. As a kid playing ice hockey, I always put on my left skate first because I believed it was good luck to do so…to this day, thirty years later, I still put on my left shoe first…always…without even thinking about it. I thank you for reading and I hope everyone has a safe day as the impending ice storm bears down on us…take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together!
Wm Reid
Best Home Care Services
325 N Eastern Ave
Connersville, IN 47331
765-827-9833
wmreid@bhcshealth.com