Fear of Friday the 13th – Paraskevidekatriaphobia or Friggatriskaidekaphobia We recently covered Triskaidekaphobia which is the fear of number 13. Today we will talk about Paraskevidekatriaphobia, which is an extension of Triskaidekaphobia. It is originally from Paraskevi (in Greek, it means Friday). Other names for this phobia include Friggatriskaidekaphobia, which originates from Norse mythology, where Frigg is the Norse goddess of Friday.
Many people fear the number 13. In numerology, 13 is considered a malignant or insignificant number that follows 12 (regarded as “more complete”). (There are 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the Zodiac, etc.) Therefore, since 13 exceeds 12 times 1, it is considered a sign of “bad luck.” Many hotels refuse to have a room on the 13th floor. Ships were not launched on Friday the 13th since The HMS (a famous 18th-century ship) was never heard from again after it was found on Friday the 13th.
People with this phobia often refuse to leave their homes on this day. (They even avoid essential tasks like going to the doctor, work, etc.). They show signs of extreme anxiety or nervousness as the date approaches. They often believe that something terrible or evil is going to happen. While many understand that their fear is unjustified and irrational, they feel powerless to overcome the panic they experienced.
You may also be interested in reading: Fear of Success: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, Therapies
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Causes fear of Friday the 13th
The main reason behind the fear of Friday the 13th is negative associations with Friday and the number 13 in many religions and cultures.
Friday the 13th is associated with the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. Therefore, many devout Christians believe that this date is unfortunate. The Great Flood also happened on a Friday. The Bible also mentions that the Last Supper had 13 members (where the 13th member was the same one who finally betrayed Jesus).
In Israel, the number 12 is considered lucky due to the 12 tribes of Israel. On the contrary, 13 is considered very “unlucky.”
In Roman culture, witches are believed to have gathered in groups of 12, where the 13th witch is the “Devil” himself.
The superstition and fear associated with Friday the 13th grew explicitly during the Middle Ages when King Philip IV of France tortured the Knights Templar. (The day of the torture was Friday the 13th).
In British culture, Friday and the 13th are associated with capital punishment. Friday was “the day of the hangman or the rope,” as many public hangings took place. (There were also exactly 13 steps up to the gallows.)
Many films, especially in the horror genre, have described the day as the “day of evil.”
Like the number 13, Friday has many ancient and deeply ingrained associations with “evil.” Because two supposedly unfortunate entities are coming together on this day, people prone to anxiety disorders develop deep fear or phobia about it. In addition, a hostile or traumatic event that occurs on Friday the 13th, directly or indirectly, could also reinforce the patient’s beliefs.
Symptoms of Paraskevidekatriaphobia
Symptoms of Friday the 13th phobia can vary from person to person. Some tend to get hysterical or nervous; others may have total anxiety or a panic attack.
- Hyperventilation
- Fast heart rate (which can increase fear of having a heart attack or dying)
- Nervous laughs
- Dizziness or vertigo
- They refused to leave home on this day. Finding excuses, crying, yelling, trying to run away, etc.
For example, hanging shoes outside the window to repel evil, eating garlic, walking around the room 13 times, etc., can be seen.
Thoughts of death or dying can continually play through the phobic’s mind.
Overcome the fear of Friday the 13th
If you have Paraskevidekatriaphobia, you must read your details on this date. Remember that bad things can happen every day, not just on Friday the 13th.
In fact: your nervousness and anxiety can cause you to make more mistakes on this day than other people who are not afraid of it. Therefore, you must educate yourself rather than simply relying on rituals or succumbing to your fear.
If your Paraskevidekatriaphobia is severely debilitating or affecting your career or personal growth, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. There is an established center in Las Vegas, Nevada that helps Paraskevidekatriaphobes overcome their fear.
Hello, how are you? My name is Georgia Tarrant, and I am a clinical psychologist. In everyday life, professional obligations seem to predominate over our personal life. It's as if work takes up more and more of the time we'd love to devote to our love life, our family, or even a moment of leisure.