Happy Freaky Friday!
Today when I awoke I was glad yesterday was over because if ever there was an “unlucky” day, yesterday was it, for a variety of reasons (I’ll spare the details….).
So I got to thinking about Friday the 13th and why it is considered by many to be “unlucky”. I did some research.
Don’t “be afraid” to take the Phobias Quiz to see how much you know about phobias! I never knew there were so many “phobias”! I took it and my total score was 9 right, 2 wrong (82%). I missed the question on Phobophobia, which is a fear of phobias. I also missed the question on Anglophobia, which is a hatred or fear of England or anything English.
I wish more of our “leaders” and soldiers had this phobia: Ballistophobia is a fear of bullets or missiles.
Here is some additional historical information and statistics on Friday the 13th:
“It’s been estimated that [U.S] $800 or $900 million is lost in business on this day because people will not fly or do business they would normally do,” said Donald Dossey, founder of the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina in a
National Geographic article on Friday the 13th phobia.
The article adddresses the ancient roots of this concept and also has survey results published on peoples’ fears about the day.
InfoPlease has an explanation of how Friday the 13th combines christian and pagan beliefs. I found this interesting:
It is considered especially unlucky to have 13 people at the table during a meal, such as in Agatha Christie‘s mystery novel, Thirteen at Dinner. During the 1880s, a men’s group that felt superstition was an unhealthy influence on public life held Thirteen Club dinners. Those diners would have doubtless deplored Triskaidekaphobia, which is a fear of the number 13. They would also have looked askance at Triskaidekamania, which is an excessive enthusiasm for the number 13.
Other links to information:
Urban Legends
About.com
Have a very lucky day!
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 