OMG It's Friday the 13th

So it’s Friday the 13^th of December – oh no what bad things are going to happen today? I must admit that, like many others I am a little superstitious. I don’t think I am obsessive about such things but I will always choose to walk around rather than under a ladder; if I spill salt I will always throw a pinch over my right shoulder; if I break a mirror I’m worried about seven years bad luck, you know all the usual little superstitions that we have been brought up with. Therefore, I have to say that I am always most pleased when Friday the 13^th has come to an end and I have escaped unscathed!

According to the Mirror News, one third of Britons will change their normal plans and routines when the 13^th of a month falls on a Friday. Just over one third of adults (34%) say they would prefer to have a duvet day, and not even leave the house, whilst a whopping 72% of adults say they have experienced bad luck on this date. It is widely known that many, many people refuse to travel, will not make big purchases (like signing a business deal or completing on a house sale), get married or hold important meetings on Friday 13^th. It’s not just in Britain either, The Stress Management Centre and Phobia Institute in North Carolina, states Friday 13^th is the most feared date in the history of the USA. It is estimated that millions of dollars of business are lost each time the 13^th falls on a Friday!   There is even a name for the phobia of this date – paraskavedekatriaphobia, bet you didn’t know that!   

So why are we all so afraid that bad things are more likely to happen on this date than any other? There is not one particular answer to that question. Many people believe it is that historically the number thirteen and the day Friday have been seen as unlucky, and so, when you put them together you are in for double trouble! Christians will point to there having been thirteen people at the last supper, and it was the thirteenth person to sit down, Judas, who went on to betray Jesus. Jesus was then crucified and put to death on a Friday. Others suggest it goes even further back in the bible, to the Garden of Eden, when the forbidden fruit was eaten on a Friday. And let us not forget that Cain was supposed to have killed his brother Abel on a Friday.

Another factor may be that it is said in 1306 King Philip of France had the revered Knights Templar arrested and tortured on a Friday, giving more evidence that Friday was an evil day. And let’s not forget that most hangings in Britain were carried out on a Friday, and traditionally there were 13 steps up to the noose! As if this wasn’t enough there are also 13 witches in a coven – wow it is a wonder any of us survive this awful date!

It is true that the superstition surrounding the number 13 is so strong that many high rise buildings do not have a 13^th floor (they jump straight from 12^th floor to 14^th). Also some hotels don’t have a number 13 room as their owners believe customers would not want to stay in there. Just as an aside I once lived in a street of houses that did not have a number 6 – I never got to solve the mystery of that either!

There have been a number of small studies carried out that suggest that there are more accidents and admissions to hospital when the thirteenth of the month falls on a Friday. Could this be yet more proof that it is a bad date, or are we just so fearful of having an accident that we act in a different way? Personally, my logic tells me that Friday 13^th is no more unlucky than any other date, I think I am a reasonable person who can think things through to a logical conclusion and I know fearing one particular date is not sensible. However would I move house, get married, start a new business or book a flight on Friday 13th – to be honest probably not!        

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