The origins of the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th are not clear, but it is thought to have roots in both Christianity and Norse mythology. In Christianity, Friday is associated with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and 13 is considered an unlucky number because it was the number of people present at the Last Supper, including Judas, the betrayer. In Norse mythology, the number 13 is associated with the story of Loki, the god of mischief, who caused the death of Balder, the god of light, during a banquet with 12 other gods.

The fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia and the fear of Friday the 13th is known as paraskevidekatriaphobia. Both of these phobias are considered to be specific phobias which are irrational and excessive fear of a specific object or situation.

Fear of the Friday the 13th

One example of the fear of the number 13 is that many high-rise buildings, hotels, and condominiums will not have a 13th floor. Instead, the floor will be labeled as the 14th floor and the 12th floor will be labeled as the 12A, this is done to avoid the number 13. Some airlines also skip the 13th row when numbering seats and some airports also do not have a gate numbered 13.

Another example is that many hospitals and airports, which are known to be busy places, do not have room number 13. Many elevators also do not have a button numbered 13. This is done to ease the mind of people who have triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13.

The fear of the number 13 is so common that it has a name, triskaidekaphobia, and it is considered to be a specific phobia, an irrational and excessive fear of a specific object or situation.

Friday the 13th in 2023

In the year 2023, there will be two Friday the 13ths. The first one will occur on January 13th and the second one will occur on April 13th. It is worth noting that the frequency of Friday the 13ths can vary from year to year. Some years may have two or even three Friday the 13ths, while other years may not have any. This is because the Gregorian calendar, which is the calendar most commonly used today, has a leap year every four years, which can affect the dates of certain holidays and events.