Friggatriskaidekaphobia/ Paraskevidekatriaphobia

One of the most common superstitions known today in America, according to The Skeptic’s Dictionary , is about Friday the 13^th.

As popular as it is through movies and social media, there are hardly ever any talks of the origin or reason behind it. Yet today, we will finally learn why approximately 17-21 million Americans fear of this unlucky day (according to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute). 

We can start learning about the superstition by examining the name given to the fear of Friday the 13^Th. There are two phobias given to the fear of this day; friggatriskaidekaphobia and paraskevidekatriaphobia. According to International Business Times, both phobias are the fears of Fridays and the fears of the number 13 combined. Friggatriskaidekaphobia comes from the word Frigga, which is the name of a Norse Goddess meaning Friday and triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13. Paraskevidekatriaphobia comes from the Greek words or Paraskevi which means Friday, and dekatreís means the number 13.

There are a few different events that occurred in history that have made people fear Fridays and find the number 13 unlucky separate from each other, and then ultimately fear any Fridays that lend on the 13^th day of the month even more altogether. According to International Business Times, superstitions behind the number 13 date back to at least 1700 BC, but when it comes to Friday the 13^th, there is no evidence of the superstition prior to the 19^th century.

The fear behind Friday comes from a few historical reasons, one of them being the day Jesus was crucified. Some people believe the superstition behind the number 13 began with the Last Supper when Jesus attended a dinner with his 12 apostles. Today, the suspicion behind the number 13 is everywhere, from a lack of a 13^th floor in hotels to a lack of an airport gate between 12 and 14. 

If you want to further learn about this topic with spooky music in the background you can watch this clip below:

Although the next Friday the 13^th is not until November, we might not have to worry about it after all! The superstition is solely based on traditional fears and old wives tales and has never been scientifically proven.