Friday the Thirteenth
by
Paraskevidekatriaphobia – the irrational fear of Friday the 13th (try to get your tongue around that one!)
In 1993 an article in the British Medical Journal investigated the relation between "health, behaviour and superstition surrounding Friday the 13th in the United Kingdom". The study reported the surprising finding that, despite the fact that fewer people chose to travel on Friday the 13th, there were significantly more hospital admissions due to accidents than there were on "normal" Fridays. Whether this is coincidence or not, the fact remains that many of us would confess some degree of anxiety about Friday the 13th, deliberately rejecting it as a day for significant life events like marriage or moving house.
So why is Friday the 13th supposed to be unlucky?
There are various theories surrounding this including Friday as the day of Christ's crucifixion and the ancient Egyptian belief that the thirteenth stage of life is death.
However, the theory I favour is the suppression of the Order of the Knights Templar. They were founded in 1128 (dates vary) originally to protect pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land, but their function eventually changed and for two hundred years the Templars flourished as soldiers, church-builders, bankers and financiers in Europe and the Holy Land. They became very powerful and were a law unto themselves. Eventually, King Philip IV of France (who owed the Templars a large sum of money) and Pope Clement V feared their power so much that they plotted to rid themselves of the Templars. The persecution of the Knights Templar was well co-ordinated and suddenly on Friday 13 October 1307 (again the year varies but everyone agrees on the day), all over France, the Templars, including their leaders were arrested, tortured and charged with heresy and other crimes. They were eventually burnt at the stake, their order suppressed and their massive properties confiscated. Neighbouring countries were ordered not to offer safe haven to any fleeing Templars, but many escaped to freedom in Portugal and from there to Scotland (allegedly taking with them the Templar treasure) where they were welcomed. Robert the Bruce and King Dinis I were both Templars. Portugal and Scotland had large communities of Knights Templar and refused to take part in the persecution.
A related term is triskaidekaphobia, which is a fear of the number thirteen generally.
Another variant form is friggatriskaidekaphobia, Frigga being an ancient Scandinavian goddess associated with witchcraft and Friday as the witches' Sabbath.
So now you know, if you didn't before! Food for thought.
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