Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Friends call you a Friggatriskaidekaphobia? Being afraid of Friday the 13th

The 13 landing on a Friday only happens each so often. Although there isn’t any reason to be worried about it, many get scared and it is called Friggatriskaidekaphobia. Granted, most black cats won’t do anything more harmful than shed or do that annoying thing with their paws. Regardless, people do indulge in their superstitions. If you’re afraid of Friday the 13th, it is called Friggatriskaidekaphobia. Saying Jason Voorhees in the mirror 3 times won’t bring a fictional character into your home. Source for this article – Friggatriskaidekaphobia? Fear of Friday the 13th by Personal Money Store.

What is that word again?

You say the word “fri-gah-tri-sk-eye-de-kah-fo-bia.” Portmanteau means being afraid of Friday the 13th. It is interesting to note that Triskaidekaphobia is a fear of the number thirteen while friggaphobia is just a fear of Friday. Put them together and you also have Friggatriskaidekaphobia. Witches and Friday go together. Friday ended up being named after Frigga, or Freya, who was the German/Norse goddess naming it Freya-day. The day arguably might be associated with witches simply because it was named for a female deity, but sexism in the ancient world is a topic for another time. Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13. The word “tri” is the number 3, “deka” is 10, you get the idea.

Any Friday the thirteenth things happen?

The short is no. No would be the long answer too. Nothing has ever been seen happening on Friday the thirteenth that was out of place, besides all the friggatriskaidekaphobia, or people getting the “heebie-jeebies”. There would be some kind of documented memory by now if anything bad really did happen on Friday the thirteenth. More individuals drink on Friday, meaning if there were more accidents on Friday the thirteenth, it could possibly be due to other things.

Going under the ladder

Friggatriskaidekaphobia and other superstitions won’t hurt a fly. There are nevertheless superstitions that exist as tradition today. For instance, theater actors won’t actually say “MacBeth” in a theater, as the play is supposedly cursed, and refer to it only as “the Scottish play.”. This is a fantastic time to have a little bit of fun, like Halloween, so watch a movie with your friends or family that scares you a bit. I’d suggest Crystal Lake be one of the activities you don’t do though.



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