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Written by Russ Larsen
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 Friday the 13th has made its mark in America. No, not just the low budget gore films of the eighties, but in folklore and tradition. It has commonly been referred to as a day of bad luck, and it is said that people should be weary of dealings this day. It is estimated that the United States will lose $800 to $900 million on this date, due to people not traveling, making large purchases, or even showing up to work. Psychologists have found that some people are especially likely to have accidents or fall ill on Friday the 13th. This has been attributed to such people feeling a heightened state of anxiety on that day.
Friday the 13th however, is not completely ominous. In fact,
Poker Hall of Fame great, T.J. Cloutier, was born on a Friday the 13th in 1939. He celebrates another Friday the 13th birthday this October (2006). Utah’s own Rob Bishop, House representative for the First District, was born on Friday the 13th in July of 1951. Some other notable Friday the 13th birthdays include, Fidel Castro, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Tony Dow, Wally from the show Leave it to Beaver.
The roots of Friday the 13th don’t seem to run as deep as many people may believe, however, Friday and the number 13, separately have been thought of as unlucky in many cultures for centuries. The combination of the two seems to be more of an Americanized tradition.
The superstition of the number 13 being unlucky is evident in our culture today with many buildings not recognizing a thirteenth floor. Naming it 12 and a half or 12b, or simply going from 12 to 14 and disregarding13 all together. The fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia, and the fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskavedekatriaphobia.
As for my input, TGIF.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 12 April 2012 09:19 |
