The unfounded fear that affects over twenty million people in the U.S., and many more worldwide, is so serious, that it is considered a medical disorder that goes by the names friggatriskaidekaphobia or paraskevidekatriaphobia?
People who suffer from this affliction experience symptoms that range from mild anxiety to a nagging fear that something bad is about to happen, to even full-blown panic attacks.
However, for many the fear began long before the hockey-masked villain of that tale, Jason Voorhees, made his appearance. So how did the day get its bad reputation? Some of the notoriety can probably be attributed to the release of the first “Friday the 13th” movie in 1980.
According to University of Delaware professor Thomas Fernsler, the reason people hate the number is because it follows the nicely rounded and ‘safe’ number 12.
According to one popular myth, twelve gods were enjoying a quiet dinner party in their mythological heaven, Valhalla, when a god named Loki (of the Thor movie fame), strolled in. The uninvited 13th guest caused havoc and even instigated Hoder, the blind god of darkness to kill Balder, the god of joy and gladness.
The one unfortunate event that is thought to have occurred on Friday the 13th is the slaying of Adam and Eve's son Abel, by his brother Cain. Though the date was not the 13th, it was right after the Last Supper, whose 13 guests included Judas Iscariot, the apostle that betrayed Jesus. Some biblical scholars believe that Eve tempted Adam with the forbidden fruit on a Friday as well.
Given the widespread paranoia, it is not surprising that many people avoid getting aboard airplanes or making big purchases on Friday the 13th. As a result, American businesses lose between $800 - $900 million USD every time the 13th falls on a Friday.
This story was from Dogo news
This is copied in an exact form from dogo news, Mischa.
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