Friday the 13th

by Libby Pelham | More from this Blogger

13 Oct 2006 12:44 PM

When I woke up this morning, I realized it was (gasp) Friday the 13th! Okay, I am really not that superstitious (hope my computer does not crash as I write this), but thought I would share a bit of info about Friday the 13th with you anyhow.

The Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute estimates that about $800 million is lost in business every Friday the 13th because people refuse to fly and conduct business as they normally would.

Some people have friggatriskaidekaphobia. That is, they fear the number 13. Have you ever been in a building like a hotel or hospital that does not have a 13th floor? It seems a bit silly to me, even if we call it the 14th floor, it is still the 13th, but many buildings do this because patrons complain of staying on the 13th floor. Even worse than that, some people have paraskevidekatriaphobia - the fear of Friday the 13th.

When something bad happens on a Friday, it often becomes known as a Black Friday. While not all occurred on the 13th, the first one did - the torture of hundreds of Knights Templar into admitting heresy on Friday, October 13, 1307. King Philip IV of France had this done to avoid paying back loans as well as permit him to loot the Templar treasures.

Some think the Friday the 13th bad luck has origins in Christianity. Many Christians believe that Christ was crucified on a Friday and the number 13 is unlucky because there were 13 people at the Last Supper.

Legend has it that the British Naval ship the HMS Friday was launched on Friday the 13th. It disappeared and was never heard from again. I'm not superstitious, but that seems like they were just asking for bad luck there!

It seems no one knows exactly why Friday the 13th are seen as unlucky, but some psychologists do think more people have accidents on Friday the 13th due to their anxiety about the day.

So take it easy and relax...it will be the 14th soon enough!

Be sure to check out Heather's blog about Friday the 13th in Fitness!

Learn more about Libby Pelham

Libby Pelham is a work-at-home mom located in Jacksonville, NC. She has a beautiful little boy, Will, born in July of 2004.

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