This article is about the
superstition
Do you join the millions around the world who believe that
Friday the 13th only holds bad luck for the day? According to the Stress
Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina, an
estimated 17 to 21 million people in the United States are affected by a fear
of this day, making it the most feared day and date in history. Some people are
so paralyzed by fear that they avoid their normal routines in doing business,
taking flights or even getting out of bed. "It's been estimated that [US]$800 or $900 million is lost in business on this
day".
A Friday the 13th occurs during
any month that begins on a Sunday
Friday the 13th is considered an
unlucky day in Western superstition. It occurs when the 13th day
of the month in the Gregorian
calendar falls
on a Friday, which happens at least once
every year but can occur up to three times in the same year,[1] for example in 2015,
the 13th fell on a Friday in February, March, and November. In 2016, Friday the
13th occurred in May. In 2017, it occurred twice, in January and October. In
2018, it also occurred twice, in April and July.[2] There will be two
Friday the 13ths every year until 2020. The years 2021 and 2022 will have just
one occurrence each.
The irrational fear of the number 13 has been given a scientific
name: "triskaidekaphobia"; and on analogy to this
the fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia, from
the Greek words Paraskeví (Παρασκευή,
meaning "Friday"), and dekatreís (δεκατρείς, meaning
"thirteen").[3]
The superstition surrounding this day may have arisen in
the Middle Ages,
"originating from the story of Jesus' last supper and crucifixion" in which there were 13
individuals present in the Upper Room on
the 13th of Nisan Maundy Thursday, the night before his death
on Good Friday.[4][5] While there is evidence of both Friday[6] and the number 13 being considered
unlucky, there is no record of the two items being referred to as especially
unlucky in conjunction before the 19th century.[7][8][9]
