When you requested me if I had been superstitious, I’d reply, “in all probability somewhat bit”.

However the actuality is, I say “white rabbits” 3 times firstly of each month that has an R in it for good luck, salute magpies for good karma and that on Friday the thirteenth, I’m greater than just a bit cautious about what I plan for the day.

I’m not alone in my worry of at the present time. In actual fact, there’s even a reputation for it: paraskevidekatriaphobia.

Say that after a few pints, I dare you.

Anyway, the place did this even come from, and why are we so frightened of this specific date?

In keeping with the College of South Carolina, the discomfort lies with the quantity 13 itself. This might be partially because of it feeling like 13 undoes a sense of completeness, like there being 12 months in a 12 months, 12 gods on Olympus, 12 indicators of the zodiac or 12 apostles of Jesus.

“13 contrasts with this sense of goodness and perfection,” they are saying.

Nonetheless, it might come additionally come right down to mythology and faith, as they defined: “The quantity 13 could also be related to some well-known however undesirable dinner company.

“In Norse mythology, the god Loki was thirteenth to reach at a feast in Valhalla, the place he tricked one other attendee into killing the god Baldur. In Christianity, Judas — the apostle who betrayed Jesus — was the thirteenth visitor on the Final Supper.”

Properly, this will likely come as a shock to these of us that work Monday to Friday however Friday has truly at all times been thought of to be an unfortunate day. In keeping with the BBC: “For tons of of years, Friday has been thought of the unluckiest day of the week. In Geoffrey Chaucer’s well-known Canterbury Tales, written within the 14th Century, he says ‘and on a Friday fell all this mischance’.

“In Britain, Friday was as soon as often called Hangman’s Day as a result of it was normally when individuals who had been condemned to demise could be hanged.”

Mainly, the mixture of an unfortunate quantity and unfortunate day has led to this cultural worry.