What’s TGIFT and why do I use it? Because on days like to day I still say TGIF or Thank God it’s Friday, but I add the Thirteenth. TGIFT pushes away the fear of Friday the 13th and I’ve enjoyed this day most of my life. Instead of the bad luck you often hear about associated with this day, I’ve had good luck. Some of my luckier Friday the 13ths included a trip to a bingo night with my grandmother where I won a $1,000 and another where I received an award.
The History Behind the Fear
So what does Friday the 13th mean? Well, there is a word for the fear of it called Paraskevidekatriaphobia. Don’t try to pronounce it. It’s a huge word and all it means is the fear of Friday the 13th. This fear is so pervasive that there are plenty of people who will simply stay home or refuse to act on anything from house buying to airplane travel to more on Friday the 13th.
According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute, $800 million is lost on business on Friday the 13th because many people refuse to do anything on this day. Many of them call out sick on this day and still more just hide in their home. This phobia is believed to affect as many as 17 to 21 million people in the U.S. The symptoms include everything from anxiety to a real panic attack. These panic attacks can cause people to schedule around the day, leaving Friday the 13th completely devoid of commitments.
When people believe that their luck is defined by either a supernatural, divine or magical source, they are more likely to be afraid on Friday the 13th. In fact, there are some so afraid of the 13th, that many buildings even skip having a 13th floor and instead go from 12 to 14 without pausing there. Some people won’t sit in the 13th row on an airplane or in a theater. The number 13 carries so many negative connotations that the fear of it can actually create problems for others.
You may not take drastic safety precautions every Friday the 13th, but are you totally immune to the superstition? Given the choice, would you get married, start a new job or close on a house on Friday the 13th? Most Americans wouldn’t, even though they don’t put much stock in the idea. Superstition has a way of creeping up on people when they’re in a particularly vulnerable state.
Ancient History
Some people allude to ancient history and myth for their fear of the 13th. In one Norse myth, 12 gods were gathered for dinner in Valhalla when the 13th uninvited guest Loki arrived. Loki, the God of mischief, then arranged for a blind god to shoot Balder, the god of joy and gladness, plunging all the gods into misery and mourning.
In the Bible, the number 13 refers to the apostle Judas who was the 13th guest at the Last Supper and since he is the apostle who betrayed Jesus – the number 13th continued it’s unlucky streak. Friday the 13th is the day Jesus was crucified and many also believe that Cane slew Abel on a Friday the 13th. Though those dates are not associated with calendars at that time. In Ancient Rome, myths associated with a Witches’ coven stated that a coven was made up of 13 members. In other myths and science, numerologists consider 12 as the great and complete number.
Twelve is the number of:
- 12 Months in the Year
- 12 Signs of the Zodiac
- 12 gods of Olympus
- 12 Labors of Hercules
- 12 Tribes of Israel
- 12 Apostles of Jesus
Numerologists believe that 13 is associated with bad luck because it is beyond completeness and the number itself is restless because it is not complete. There are 13 months on a lunar calendar though and 13 cycles a woman experiences throughout the year. Many believe that 13 is a deeply feminine number and that it makes the masculine uncomfortable because it is that way.
In a patriarchal society, one intent suppressing pagan belief – the luck of the number 13 becomes associated with negativity and bad luck. In Florence Italy, houses between the numbers 12 and 14 are labeled 12 and a half for their addresses. In France, a fourteener was the important invitee to a social dinner party, keeping the number at a social meal from being an unlucky number.
People who suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia need to refocus their thoughts, their anxiety and stress from the negative to the positive and reclaim the day from the halls of ancient bad luck. I guess I’m odd, I like Friday the 13th and I believe very firmly in the fact that we make our own luck and that bad things, like good things – happen all the time. So instead of dreading today – remember TGIFT – today is a gift or Thank God it’s Friday the Thirteenth.
How do you feel about Friday the 13th?
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