Beware, it's Friday the 13th

What does the amalgamation of two unlucky things bring out, the unlucky number 13 and the unlucky day Friday? Bad luck, evil, darkness? Paraskevidekatriaphobia is a reality and around 17 to 21 million people in US are affected by a fear of this day.

CJ: perfumo

Fri, Nov 13, 2009 01:00:06 IST

Views:
63
Comments:
0

Rate:

3.0 / 2 votes

Offbeat News :

DO YOU have paraskevidekatriaphobia? Yes! Fear of Friday the 13th. Do you suffer from symptoms ranging from mild anxiety to full-blown panic attacks? If yes, it is best that you stay home and avoid your routine things today.

What does the amalgamation of two unlucky things bring out, the unlucky number 13 and the unlucky day Friday? And this year 2009 has been witness to not one, not two but three Friday the 13ths. Today, is the last Friday the 13 of this year, the next instance of this would appear in 2015.

As the legend has it, number 13 has always been considered incomplete and irregular while the number twelve is considered the number of completeness, as reflected in the twelve months of the year, twelve signs of the zodiac, twelve hours of the clock etc. A superstition derived from the Last Supper or a Norse myth says that having thirteen people seated at a table will result in the death of one of the diners.

Friday has been considered an unlucky day at least since the 14th century. Black Friday has been associated with stock market crashes and other disasters since the 1800s. Also according to Christian scripture and tradition, Jesus was crucified on a Friday.

So when the unlucky day and the number appear together, it spells double disaster for people who believe in such superstitions.

And this is not a joke, according to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, NC, around 17 to 21 million people in the United States are affected by a fear of this day. Some people are so paralyzed by fear that they avoid their normal routines in doing business, taking flights or even getting out of bed

People just close themselves in their homes and do nothing, just to avoid any possibility of something bad happening.

Personally I have had no bad experience of Friday the 13th, perhaps I never bothered to take notice. But now that I have written this piece, I would for once believe there is something mystical about the day. It builds that character in your mind, Friday the 13th gives a visual that is dark, very very dark.

Print | Post comment

More in Offbeat News

Post your comment

Posted comments (1)

	Hello! Number 13 is a lucky number because in Hindi it is spoken as 'tera', signifying that it belongs to God. This is how it is perceived in Sikh community. Moreover, Friday is associated with planet Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. So, please don't assert on these misconceptions. Everything on this earth is a gift of the divine. Making a fuss of divine things is not at all justified.
	\| 13 November 2009 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse

dat's why it is called superstition but people unfortunately people do believe in superstitions!

pinky | 13 November 2009

Astrologers are the ones who try to make fool of innocent human beings and make money in return by scaring them. Superstitions are an utter nonsense and are the product of their conspiring minds.

smita rajan | 13 November 2009