In honor of Friday the 13th, a brief history on friggatriskaidekaphobia
For many people Friday the 13th Brings Fear and up to 10% of the population refuse to leave their house or drive their car. In my case I didn't like the day because my Ex-Wife was born on a Friday the 13th. As I see this going on I wanted to do some research. Here is what I found. First of all, I always thought that Triskaidekaphobia was the Fear of Friday the 13th, but NO, this is simply the fear of the Number 13 (See tall buildings without a 13th Floor. The definition of that is (pronunciation: /ˌtrɪskaɪˌdɛkəˈfoʊbiə, ˌtrɪskə-/, TRIS-kye-DEK-ə-FOH-bee-ə or TRIS-kə-DEK-ə-FOH-bee-ə; from Greek tris meaning "three", kai meaning "and", deka meaning "10" and phobos meaning "fear" or "morbid fear") is fear or avoidance of the number 13 . (Just a little vocab for you). But the real term for fear of FRIDAY the 13th is friggatriskaidekaphobia which means friggatriskaidekaphobia (after Frigg, the Norse goddess after whom Friday is named in English). (Even more cool vocabulary). With the Wolf Moon tonight, we may in fact need to fear the number 13. Having said all that. Here are some fun facts as to why we may have a fear of Friday the 13th.
(Excerpted from Michael Nolan of the Sun Newspaper)
"There are 12 months of the year, 12 hours of the clock, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles of Jesus.
• Friday has long been considered an unlucky day. According to Christian tradition, Jesus died on a Friday.
• At the Last Supper, there were 13 people around the table, counting Christ and the 12 apostles, including Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus Christ.
• Some people believe that on Friday, Oct. 13, 1307, King Phillip IV of France ordered the arrest of the Knights Templar, and most of the knights were tortured and killed.
The number 13 has a long history as an unlucky number mainly in Western cultures.
Traditionally, there were 13 steps to the gallows (actually, gallows steps varied but often the number was brought up to 13). It has been said that the 13 steps are 12 up and one down.
The belief is so strong that many high-rise hotels, office and apartment buildings do not have or recognize a 13th floor and airports usually do not have a 13th gate.
So the common perception that Friday is an unlucky day and 13 is a particularly unlucky number gives us the notion that Friday the 13th is the worst day of all.
There are no lucky or unlucky numbers — they exist only in our heads — and they might become lucky or unlucky only if we make them that way.
But many triskaidekaphobics don’t need statistical evidence or facts to confirm their conviction that the number is truly cursed. As with any superstition, no matter how irrational it may be, some people will still choose to believe in it."
Having said all that, I choose to treat this Friday like any other. Work as little as possible, Get out of Work Early, Catch an early Cocktail or 10 and stay off the Streets after dark.
Happy Friday the 13th 2017
