triskaidekaphobia. The latter being fear of the number 13, and the former being fear of Friday the 13th in particular. The history of this fear is interesting and worthy of taking a look at.
Did you know fear of Friday the 13th cost Americans approximately 800 million dollars a year annually in lost work time, missed travel opportunities, and, loss in revenue because people will not get married on Friday the 13th.
Why are some people so distraught over the number 13 and Friday the 13th? To try and figure that out we have to go back into ancient history, around 3000 BCE, to the Sumerians. Back then Sumerians used base 60 mathematics called sexagesimal that had 12 factors. 12 thus became the perfect number in their vast empire of the ancient world. This became a numerical system based on 12. 2-12 hour periods in a 24 hour day, 12 months in their calendar (which we still use as a base for our modern calendar). So, somehow 13 just became unlucky because it followed the perfect number 12. Kind of like the middle child syndrome of no one loves me. Of course, in mythology we do have the Norse legend of the miscreant god Loki, upsetting the apple cart by being the 13th guest who was uninvited, to an otherwise perfectly balanced dinner party for 12 in Valhalla. We also mustn't forget that nasty Judas Iscariot, he was the 13th apostle to show up for the last supper, and we all know what he did. *Tsk *Tsk
because Mr. Krabs told Sponge Bob there are 13 dirty words?
The truth is no one can really pinpoint the true reason, or precise time, although some researchers tend to agree that this "fear" became popular in the middle ages, and revolved around biblical mishaps.
As far as Friday being added to the mix, there is no written evidence before the 19th century, and still NO clear reason why this fear exists, and do not even get me started how black cats got glommed into the mess! Well, actually, I do know this. You see in the dark ages (dark being the key word), it was believed that witches covens had 13 members, and that witches were servants of Satan. These witches had familiars that came from Satan which were 9 times out of 10 cats, and these cats were black because black is the colour of night when evil lurks. Hence why idiots during the dark ages and middle ages thought black cats were cursed. And every year at least 10% of Americans FREAK OUT over superstitions concocted by generations of illiterates!
None the less, even if it is because people are a scared and superstitious lot, that doesn't change the fact we still don't really know the whole story about why Friday the 13th is considered cursed and evil. Of course, without it, we wouldn't have the pop culture craze of it all, and It's also fun to see all of the Jason Voorhees pics, memes, merchandise, and movie references that appear. Actually, there are even many memes of Jason for Thursday the 12th as well. It's crazy how a simple slasher flick from the 80's has embedded itself in popular culture. The Friday the 13th films are some of the few slasher type flicks I will watch. Perhaps, it's because it was one of the originals, and modern slasher flicks aren't really slasher flicks in my opinion. (we'll open that can of worms another day).
well. Such as Friday the 13th the series, which I love to watch at least once a year, usually in Autumn. Which some critics - who's names shall be withheld have remarked that it was misleadingly-titled. Obviously, for some reason these individuals feel that no one else is allowed to use Friday the 13th in a title? Maybe, they should read up on the lore of Friday the 13th, to understand the fear of the date came WELL BEFORE the Jason properties. ANYWAY, enough of my rant.
The bottom line is this Friday the 13th the franchise, may have made the date a pop culture holiday, but no one owns the right to that date as far as making creepy good content, whether it be other movies, tv shows, books, comics, art, stories, music; you get the point.
Friday the 13th is a rare yearly experience that means many things to many people, or maybe you don't give a toss about it. Whatever you think, I'd love to hear about it!
Well, my twisted triskaidekaphobes, thus ends the lesson.
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