Friday the 13th is considered unlucky due to the combination of the unlucky number 13 and the day Friday, named after the Norse goddess Frigg. Friggatriskaidekaphobia is the fear of this day, but studies show there is little to fear. Despite this, some people may suffer from mild to severe anxiety or panic attacks. Business can also suffer, with millions of dollars lost in sales on this day.
For centuries, Friday has been thought to be an unlucky day and 13 has been thought to be an unlucky number. Many people may joke that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day, but some may actually fear this day. Friggatriskaidekaphobia is a term used to refer to the fear of Friday the 13th. While many people suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia, studies show that there is little to fear about this particular day. It is usually simply classified as a common superstition.
Frigga, or Frigg, was the Norse goddess of marriage and motherhood as well as the wife of Odin. She is also the goddess for whom Friday was named. Once Christianity became the dominant religion, legend states that Frigga was branded a witch and banished to a mountaintop. There, she met other witches, as well as the devil himself, to plan terrible misfortunes for the coming week. Jesus Christ is also supposed to have been crucified on a Friday, which is another possible reason why this day could be considered unlucky.
Thirteen is also considered an unlucky number. Fear of the number 13 is often referred to as triskaidekaphobia. It is natural that an unlucky day combined with an unlucky number leads to extreme superstition and friggatriskaidekaphobia.
Friggatriskaidekaphobia is among the new superstitions. It was not mentioned in writing until the 19th century in a biography of the famous Italian composer Gioachino Rossini. Henry Sutherland Edwards, the author of the biography, stated that Rossini believed both Friday and number 19 to be unlucky. It is also reported that he died on Friday the 13th.
Sufferers of friggatriskaidekaphobia usually have to face their fears at least once a year, as the 13th falls on a Friday almost every year in the modern calendar. In some years, this unfortunate date can even occur up to three times. Exceptions to this rule, however, do occur, but it’s rare. Also, as a general rule, when the 1st of the month falls on a Sunday, the 13th falls on a Friday during that particular month.
Like many irrational fears, the effects of friggatriskaidekaphobia can be mild to severe. Some people may just feel uncomfortable and be extra careful on this day. Other more superstitious people, however, may refuse to travel or even leave their homes. They can also have severe panic attacks.
Despite the fear of this particular date, studies have shown that accidents occur no more or less than on any other Friday. Business, on the other hand, can suffer. Studies show that millions of dollars in sales are lost every Friday the 13th. This most likely occurs because some people choose to stay home on this particularly superstitious day.
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