THE TRUTH BEHIND FRIDAY THE 13TH

Friday the 13th, what would you think of this day? Will it be normal or possibly the most well known bad luck day, but why such people beliefs in this superstition? Even I also believes that! Flash back to your chilhood days; do you remeber someone telling you: "Watch for that black cat crossing the street," "Don't break the mirror today or else 7 years bad luck," or " Don't step on the cracks on the sidewalk."

The fear of Friday the 13th is calledd Paraskevidekatriaphobia. The word is derived from the Greek words Paraskevi (meaning Friday), and dekatreis (meaning 13), attached to phobia (meaning fear). This is a specialised form of triskaidekaphobia, a simple phobia of the number 13. The fear of Friday the 13th continues for most of us. Most people cannot offer an explanation to their fear or superstitions, but the belief is widespread. Some people begin their day with greater care. Some do not go to work, while others cancel their job interview, feeling the day would result badly.

According to folkorists, there is no written evidence for a " Friday the 13th" superstition before the 19th century. the earliest known documented reference in English occurs in an 1869 biography of Giochino Rossini. As the story goes, Rossini regarded Friday as an unlucky day, and thirteen as an unlucky number. It is remarkable that on Friday, the 13th of November, he died.

The idea that Friday the 13th who bring bad luck also has its roots in both Norse and Christian beliefs. It can be traced to the Scandinavians who believed the 13 was unlucky due to the mythological 12 demigods being joined by a 13th, an evil one, who brought misfortune upon humans. Christ was said to have been crucified on Friday and the number of guests at the party of the Last Supper was 13, with the 13th guest being Judas, the traitor!!

Some of these folkores are passed through oral traditions. Determining the origins of superstitions is an inexact science and mostly guesswork. However the superstition has strong effect on people's lives. More than 80% of high-rises lack a 13th floor, for fear of bad luck. Many airports skip the 13th gate and airplanes have no 13th aisle -check next time you are on one!!! Hospitals and hotels regularly have no room number 13. Italians omit the number 13 from their national lottery, all fear of bad luck.

Many triskaidekaphobes (as those who fear the unlucky number 13 are known) point to the ill-fated mission to the moon, Apollo 13!! If you have 13 letters in your name, you may have the devil's luck. Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer and Theodore Bundy all have 13 letters in their names!!!

Even people who were born on the 13 some are unpredictable!!! What I mean to say some of them can't be trusted, playboy, liers and so many negative characters which they have ( trust me I have seen them and I have read their character!!) Certain people who born on 13 are good its only depends the situation that they have been through ( p.s- I haven't seen the good people yet).

So superstition Friday the 13th is just one of many examples of the global fear of this number. According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina, an estimated 17 to 21 million people in the United States are affected by a fear of this day. Some people are so paralysed by fear that they avoid normal routines in doing business, taking flights or even getting out of bed.
It's been estimated that US$800 or $900 million is lost in business on this day.



HOW TO AVOID SUPERSTITION.

Step 1
Learn what superstition is, in order to avoid it. Superstition is an unjustified fear or false warning. In the old days they used to consider walking under a ladder bad luck or opening an umbrella in doors bad luck. How could these things be bad luck?


Step 2
Superstition is also about demon possession and curses. These are both often used as excuses to explain away mental illness or traumatic events such as natural disasters and other "bad luck".


Step 3
Rephrase bad luck and call it "chance" or life circumstance.


Step 4
Be open minded to a point. Life on earth still holds many mysteries and we should respect the unknown. However we should not gett too carried away with the supernatural.


Step 5
Realise there are some mysteries that will be harder to define that others.


Step 6
Never stop believing in miracles, but believe in miracles rather than superstition. Because good things do happen.


Step 7
Think positive when the day is 13th not only Friday the 13th but also the other days on 13.