Are you triskaidekaphobic? (The fear of the number 13. Yes, there is such a name) or perhaps you just suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia, otherwise known as paraskevidekatriaphobia, a blinding fear of this day. No worries, there are 20,999,999 other people that suffer from this phobia as well. Rejoice in that it is the LAST Friday the 13th of 2015. The next one happens in May 2016.
The origins of this superstition are unclear. It could be any number of explanations including it may be because there were 13 people at Jesus' last supper, Judas was guest number 13 and Jesus was crucified on a Friday. Being of Scandinavian decent, myself, I like the notion that it came from a Norse myth about a dinner in Valhalla, Norse heaven. Twelve gods were invited, but a 13th crashed the affair and wreaked havoc, thus tarnishing the number 13 ever after.
Obviously, dinner parties with 13 guests are a bad idea at any time, especially on Friday the 13th. But, if you are going to do it and you live in France, you can hire a quatorzieme, a professional 14th dinner guest.
Obviously, dinner parties with 13 guests are a bad idea at any time, especially on Friday the 13th. But, if you are going to do it and you live in France, you can hire a quatorzieme, a professional 14th dinner guest.
Due to triskaidekaphobia, many buildings and most hospitals do not have a 13th floor. I'm not sure if that 22 story building is actually only 21 stories.
Between $800-$900 million is lost in business on Friday the 13th because so many people are so paralyzed with fear that they avoid their normal routines and stay home. Which leads to...
There are fewer traffic accidents and thefts on Friday the 13th because people are preventatively more careful or just don't leave the house.
Is the sky falling? Today, a bunch of "space junk" is expected to fall in Sri Lanka, prompting the government to institute a no-fly zone in the potential landing area, according to the CBC.
Black Sabbath debuted their first album on a Friday the 13th in 1970. Things turned out pretty well for them. Also for Taylor Swift, who considers 13 her very lucky number. Tupac Shakur was shot on a Friday the 13th. Things did not turn out well for him.
Did you know that in Italian popular culture, Friday the 17th (and not the 13th) is considered a day of bad luck. The origin of this belief can be traced in the writing of number 17, in Roman numerals: XVII. By shuffling the digits of the number one can easily get the word VIXI ("I have lived", implying death in the present), an omen of bad luck. In fact, in Italy, 13 is generally considered a lucky number.
In Greece and Spain, Tuesday the 13th is unlucky. That might explain why the 2004 Olympics in Athens had its opening day on Friday the 13th. No fear there.
In Greece and Spain, Tuesday the 13th is unlucky. That might explain why the 2004 Olympics in Athens had its opening day on Friday the 13th. No fear there.
There you have it. After every Friday 13, comes a Saturday 14, which can only mean one thing: the weekend is nearly upon us and THAT is something we all get excited about.
I am choosing to take today as a magical day with power and will attempt to harness said power for wonderful things. What will you do?
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