By Maya Pillai (read the full post here)
Though many believe Friday the 13th to be an unlucky day, there are many groups who defy such thoughts and superstitions. Some activities like cutting your hair or nails, shifting to a new house, commencing a new venture, purchasing a new vehicle, etc. are avoided by many on Fridays or on the 13th day of the month. There are many stories and myths attached with this date.
Do the terms triskaidekaphobia and paraskevidekatriaphobia mean anything to you? Have you come across these terms?
Triskaidekaphobia means fear of the number 13.
Paraskevidekatriaphobia is the fear of Friday the 13th.
Dr. Donald Dossey, an American psychotherapist, coined these terms. There are many people who are treated for these phobias. It is believed that some people would completely cancel or postpone their daily activities if they happen to fall on a Friday-the-13th date and reschedule important business meetings and travel plans to another day. A loss of millions of dollars is recorded on this day. Friday the 13th is the day for many to laze around within the premises of one’s home because of the fear of bad luck striking them if they did venture out.
Legends of Friday the 13th
Ancient Egyptians considered the number 13 as symbol of death. Remember, ancient Egyptians believed in life after death.
According to the Norse myths, once upon a time at Valhalla, the heaven of the Norse Gods, Gods were invited for a party by Balder – the God of Joy and Gladness. There were 12 Norse Gods, including Balder, partying. When the party was in full swing the God of Mischief Loki walked in. He was the uninvited 13th god. He showed his anger by arranging Hoder, the blind God of Darkness to kill Balder with a poisonous mistletoe arrow. It is believed that the Earth plunged into darkness and evil took over the reign. This could be one of the reasons why some people consider number 13 to be ominous and unlucky.
Friday is also considered to be unlucky by the believers of Christianity. There were 13 people at “The Last Supper” (also known as known as the Lord’s supper was the last meal Jesus had with his 12 Apostles).
Beliefs and superstitions that Friday the 13th brings bad luck saw no bounds in the Middle Ages. The historical records say that Jacques de Molay Grand Master of the Templars was arrested on October 13th, 1307 AD – a Friday. Eventually he was executed in 1314 AD. Hence, Friday the 13th, is considered to be an unlucky day in Europe.
Hollywood also did its share in driving the ill-luck association of Friday the 13th deeper into the public psyche with the Friday the 13th movie franchise in which the lead antagonist, Jason Voorhes, a psychotic serial murderer, is mentioned as having been born on this ominous date.
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Dear Paulo Sir,
Its very nice of You that You have tried at least Your best to create an awarness against superstitious beliefs and myths among Your readers with Your sharpest weapon .
But Sir the fact is that most people from advanced countries[economic & scientific] are the worst superstitious ! And they believe and follow God out of fear , not for love, respect and devotion .
…y usted, que opina, le preocupa?…
The thing is, usually I’m not aware of all the little accidents in our outside my house, but I must admit that I have my thoughts over friday the 13th.
My thougths are with all crewmembers, passengers and other related persons with the Costa Concordia. Crashed last friday 13th of january 2012.
In Chinese medicine the number 13 is a return to the origins (Jia Ren)
Dans la medecine chinoise le numero 13 est un retour aux origines (Jia Ren = retour chez soi, Etre du Clan)
It is part of the WU XING the five movements’ water, wood, fire earth and metal’
ca fait partie du WU XING les cinq mouvements ‘eau, bois, feu, terre metal’
Numbers are associated with the 4 seasons, autumn, winter, spring, summer,the directions North south west east, the elements, earth, fire, water air, the phases of the moon,
Les nombres sont souvent associes avec les quatre saisons, automne hiver printemps ete, les 4 directions nord, sud, ouest et, les 4 elements terre, feu, eau et, les phases de la lune,
in other words they are associated with nature
En d’autres mots ils sont associes avec la nature.
et la relation de l’homme avec terre et ciel (l’art floral japonais Ikebana est un bon exemple)
and the relation of man with earth and sky (the Japanese floral art Ikebana is a good example)
with love
Marie-Christine
Lo que es una locura es vivir para fuera y no para dentro.
Con la música pasa eso, todos son expertos, si no les sigues el royo, estás fuera. Oyen sin saborear compulsivamente para decir que han oído, y por supuesto, todo es malo, salvo lo que les concede exclusividad. Yo toco solo en mi casa y disfruto de ello, el circo para los de fuera. Que pena de tiempo perdido, al final te das cuenta de que lo mejor es no opinar demasiado y darles la razón al fin y al cabo es lo que quieren, exclusividad, privilegio, estar en la onda, se más… no mejor.
Un saludo, empiezo a ser como era, a vivir para dentro, dejo atrás el mundo exterior.
Hasta pronto.
Não acredito nessas coisas, nem em simpatias ou qq coisa assim.
Mas creio em símbolos de fé, como lembrança para minha própria fraqueza humana q tantas vezes esquece da força de Deus e da fé.
Bjossssssssssss
All this fear and superstition around Friday the 13th is in my opinion ridiculous !
Sometimes humans don’t need much to start a fire just to reassure themselves or to entertain their boring little lives haha.
I can’t believe millions are lost in business on that day cuz of all the superstitions wow self-induced bad luck that’s what it is for sure lol
Hmm, normally I don’t have any problems with Friday the 13th, but this year I do. I booked a tour in West Australia which would start on Friday 13th. It was cancelled because of cycloon Heidi. Now, Adventure Tours charges me with a 25 % cancellation fee, even though THEY cancelled the tour. Go figure!
Hmm, if people are afraid of Friday 13th or even of the number 13, how will they react next year (2013)?
BUENO YO SOY MUY REALISTA SI LAS COSAS ME PASAN ES POR CREER ES PONER MI FE PUESTA SI YO CREO QE EL 13 ES UN DIA PARA MUCHOS PELIGROSOS ES PORQE ELLOS CREEN ESTAN INVIRTIENDO FE CREER SOBRE TODO ES COMO POR DECIR LA LEY DE MUCHOS QE CREEN EN LA LALEY DE LA ATRACCION QE TODO LO ATRAE TELEPATICAMENTE SE DICEN SIN ENVARGO EL SUBCONCIENTE ES EL QE RETIENE LO QE PENSO Y AUTOMATICAMENTE SE REALIZA POR SU CONFECCION YO SERIA UNA DE LAS PRIMERAS PERSONA QE DESCUBRIO LA FE CREER SIN HABER VISTO NADA AY CONFESAR HABLAR QE AUTOMATICAMENTE SE REALIZA EN MI VIDA Y CREO QE EL NUMERO ES MUY BUENO 13 COMO CUALQUIER NUMEROCREADO POR EL HOMBRE SI EL HOMBRE CREE QE ESE DIA SERA MALO SE REALIZARA DEACUERDO ALO QE EL VIVE SU VIDA COTIDIANA LA RUTINA QE EL VIVE YSIEMBRA EN SU VIDA Y RECIBIRA LOQE SEMBRO.ES UN PLASER PARA MI SABER ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,………….. LAJESKA CORAZON ————
And I think it is also a fulll moon!:-o)This year
Todos los dias del a~o no son iguales por que la vida seria bien aburrida. Ningun dia o numero tiene que ver con buena o mala suerte cada dia es un milagro de vida para darle gracias a Dios por tantas cosas hermosas que nos suceden buenas o malas ,la naturaleza,las estrellas los compa~eros con los que compartimos todos los dias son nuestros hermanos. El mundo es hermoso todos los dias . Dios nos los regala para que los disfrutemos. Nosotros sabemos donde nacemos pero no donde y cuando vamos a morir por esta razon debemos estar preparados ,en paz con todas las personas que nos rodean. Todos los dias son hermosos.
We can ‘trust’ Hollywood to deploy the myths ..like Fri 13th…
AND that most therapists are attracted to their clients ..
and ‘vice’ versa!
I had a lovely Fri 13th..had repairs done on my beautiful jacket for free..they insisted..walks miles by the sea, had a lovely coffee, had g8 chats
and soooo much more ..Paulos blog Phew !
I’m soooo grateful,
Love
Breda
if u believe,it will jst happen!
Por que este señor afirma que los cristianos tienen por creencia, la supersticion del viernes 13? acaso necesariamente es una supersticion solo de los cristianos?…. de cual biblia saco usted tal informacion?… una cosa es que alla gente ignorante y se coma cualquier cuento de cualquier religion, pero otra muy distinta que esta idiotez sea creencia cristiana y que como cristiano yo crea en ella, esas supersticiones son son producto de la ignorancia y de las religiones falsas de la nueva era, como a la que usted pertenece, donde supuestamente el conocimiento es privilegio de unos pocos llamados maestros y que por medio de 1 solo conocimiento me puedo ser feliz, y practicando algunas posturas o pocisiones, como pararme de cabeza, para entrar en un trance, muy parecido al que experimentan los drogadictos, eso si es supersticion.!!!!!!!!!
Friday is “NOT” considered to be unlucky by the believers of Christianity.
where is that written? in the bible?, why you say that ?
that arguments based Christians for saying such a thing?
you are saying with this statement, as someone who is Christian therefore must be superstition according to you?
that is totally false!!!!!!!!!!!
Paulo is a Christian and he is a true believer, and he didn’t say anything according to him if you read what he wrote carefully, he was just stating facts of what people think about Friday the 13th and what happened in the history of the world, and he is reassuring us that it’s nonsense to believe in bad luck on Friday the 13th. It’s only a day and a number.
Upon investigation
Investiguer (French/Spanish)
In ves ti guer
Inside you see your war
Investigate (English/Spanish)
In ves ti gate
Inside you see your barrier
So you can make it a bar and rier :) that’s quite sensible
You can also have an air gate, a water gate, a fire gate and end up with a
Light gate for a light bulb moment.
That’s keeping in with nature.
and as you say :’No one else is in charge of our happiness. We are.”
Thank you.
With love
Marie-Christine
and it makes sense to invest in yourself first..(invest ti)
I don’t believe in this. I was born on friday 13th, my name I have just realised is 13 characters all together, and I have been through things that not everyone my age has gone through. I maintain that I am simply lucky to be alive, surrounded by love in life, and am in good health. Yesterday I did receive negative news from my dad who was just recently diagnosed with cancer it is worse than we hoped as the cancer mass is large. Chemo and radiotherapy will be needed. I have been on a road trip back to my home and decided to stop at my Aunty’s who I have not known in my childhood due to distance. so I have renewed faith that things happen accordingly to plan as we get to support each other and though we have only spent a small amount of time together I instantly feel a strong connection, warmth and peace with her and at her home. I could say yesterday was unlucky but it wouldn’t be true I arrived safely after driving about 13 hrs and knew of his illness previously. I believe in the good and am grateful for the gifts I have and the ability to share them. We always have a choice to how we percieve the world and how we act as result. What is your choice?
Love your comment, I agree with you. I’m sorry about your dad, God bless him, you, and your family.
Hello Amy-Jane, I too was born on a Friday 13th and it never bugged me because where I come from (Dominican Republic) Tuesday 13 is the day that is considered unlucky. I never enjoyed my birthday much, but when I moved to the states people were always negative if I said I was born Friday the 13 and It made me sadder everytime my birthday would come. A fews years ago I made a concious desition, that if I say 13 is my lucky number and Friday 13 my lucky day, it will certainly be that way, and know I always look forward to it. We truly have more control over our lifes than we tend to think. I am terribly sorry about your dad and I hope that this go well for him. And I believe your positive attitude towards life is refreshing to the people who are lucky enough to know :)
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