Paraskevidekatriaphobics: Your Day Has Come!
Today's the day paraskevidekatriaphobics dread. Today is Friday the 13th and it happens every now and then. Of all the superstitions and phobia, the fear of Friday the 13th is probably the most common throughout the world. The term to describe this phobia is paraskevidekatriaphobia.
paraskevidekatriaphobia
para...skevi...deka...tria...phobia
lets hear you say it fast. Tough? The term was coined by Dr. Donald Dossey, who also claims that if you are able to pronounce it correctly, your fear would be cured.
The origin of this superstition, like others, is hard to pin-point but it can be attributed to the unfortunate confluence of the unlucky number 13 and Friday, considered to be unfavourable in many religions and cultures:
- There were 13 people in the 'last supper'
- Several serial killers had 13 letters in their name: Charles Manson, Theodore Bundy, Jack the Ripper
- Witches' covens were groups of 13
- The 13th card in a Tarot deck is the Death card
- Christ was curcified on a Friday
- Friday was the execution day for Romans
- Friday was the day when God threw Adam and Eve out of Eden
The number 13 and its ominous potential is taken very seriously, many cities would not have 13th street, or house number 13. Most buildings would skip from 12th floor to 14th floor, hotels would not have a room no. 13.
Research has come up with evidence that Friday the 13th may indeed be unlucky for some, though it may not entirely be attributed to cosmic reasons. Many businesses throughout the world run millions of dollars in losses on this day because people would not show up at work or buy anything new. So there is some reason to fear this day after all!
Read the many theories of the origin of the fear here.
Paraskevidekatriaphobia on wiki.
posted by The Soulforged @ 5/13/2005
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