Friday the 13th,
is considered a day of bad luck and evil. In the Western world,
a significant chunk of the population suspects bad things will
happen whenever the 13th day of a month occurs on the day of the
week called Friday. Like many human beliefs, the fear of Friday
the 13th isn't exactly grounded in scientific logic. But the
really strange thing is that most of the people who believe the
day is unlucky offer no explanation at all, logical or
illogical. Many people avoid travel and avoid signing contracts
on Friday the 13th. Floors in tall buildings often skip from 12
to 14. The superstition does have deep, compelling roots,
however, and the origins help explain why the belief is so
widespread today.
The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskavedekatriaphobia or
Paraskevidekatriaphobia, a specialized form of triskaidekaphobia
- fear of the number 13. It comes from the Greek words paraskevi
(Friday), and dekatria (thirteen), with the suffix phobia.
The origins of the Friday the 13th superstition has been linked to the
fact there were 13 people at the last supper of Jesus Christ, who was
traditionally crucified on Good Friday. Another suggestion is that the
belief originated in a Norse myth about twelve gods having a feast in
Valhalla. The mischievous Loki gatecrashed the party as an uninvited
13th guest and arranged for Hod, the blind god of darkness, to shoot
Baldur the god of joy and gladness, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow.
Baldur was killed and the Earth was plunged into darkness and mourning
as a result. Some also say that the arrest of Jaques de Molay, Grand
Master of the Knights Templer, and and 60 of his senior knights on
Friday, October 13, 1307 by King Philip IV of France is the origin of
this superstition. From that day on, Friday the 13th was considered by
followers of the Templars as an evil and unlucky day.
Belief in Friday the 13th is no different from belief in astrology,
quack medicine, hauntings or UFOs and the crash at Roswell, New Mexico.
None of these claims are grounded in sound scientific evidence.
Television programs and films like the Unexplained, Friday the 13th, Psi
Factor, Independence Day, Unsolved Mysteries, Dark Skies and the X-Files
need to balance their content with scientific criticism. Otherwise,
Hollywood producers, are contributing to a society of believers in
superstition and the paranormal. It is when people make financial,
political and personal decisions based on these kinds of superstitions
that we witness the true darkside of Friday the 13th.
A healthy response to Friday the 13th comes from Paul Kurtz, chairman of
the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the
Paranormal. His message is, there's nothing to fear from superstition, &
this organization routinely celebrates Friday the 13th with a party at
which mirrors are broken, umbrellas are opened indoors, and other
superstitious taboos are brashly challenged. So party hard and send Good
Luck wishes to all!!.
