What in the friggatriskaidekaphobia is the problem with Friday The 13th? Unless you live in Jason Voorhees' neighborhood, is there really something to this superstition? The “unlucky day” occurs when the 13th day of the month in the Gregorian calendar falls on a Friday… which happens at least once every year and can even occur up to three times in the same year.
The History Channel notes fear of the number 13 goes back well before the slasher movies. “According to biblical tradition, 13 guests attended the Last Supper, held on Maundy Thursday, including Jesus and his 12 apostles (one of whom, Judas, betrayed him). The next day, of course, was Good Friday, the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. The seating arrangement at the Last Supper is believed to have given rise to a longstanding Christian superstition that having 13 guests at a table was a bad omen—specifically, that it was courting death.
Triskaidekaphobiacs may want to avoid smashing mirrors and chasing black cats under ladders today, but with the wet weather washing out the Oakland Supercross this weekend, we should probably be more worried about staying warm and dry this weekend rather than succumbing to paraskavedekatriaphobia!
