Do you suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia? First, enjoy this picture gallery (click on any image to start the slide show), then read below about the meaning and history of friggatriskaidekaphobia — and why Good Friday really means good luck!
The term friggatriskaidekaphobia (literally “fear of Friday the 13th”) derives from three words:
- Frigga = Friday – from the Old English “Frige’s Day,” named for the Norse goddess Frigg, Thor’s mother, kind of (Odin has some ‘splaining to do)
- Triskaideka = Greek for thirteen, and
- Phobia = Greek for, well, phobia
“Put ‘em together and what do you get? Bibbity-bobbity, bibbity-bobbity—” Stop! Cut the Disney music! Fear of Friday the 13th is a real thing. According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute, as many as 21 million Americans are stricken with panic, refusing to leave their homes and draining the U.S. economy of nearly a billion dollars — every Friday the 13th!
And fear of the number 13 isn’t just for American fraidy cats, it’s a worldwide phenomenon. The number is universally viewed as “bad luck” because it goes beyond 12, the number of completion (12 months in a year, 12+12 hours in a day, 12 inches in a foot, 12 tribes of Israel, etc.). As a result, over 80% of high rises worldwide have no 13th floor (of course they do, but it’s not called that), hospitals and hotels have no Room 13, and houses in Italy are located at number 12 ½ Such-and-sucha Street.
Friggatriskaidekaphobes often point a shaky finger at the Apollo 13 mission, interrupted by a near-fatal on-board explosion on April (you guessed it) the 13th. But wait–the Apollo 13 disaster ended in an “impossible rescue,” a new beginning.
And so did the event that is most often referenced as the source of Fear of Friday the 13th: the Last Supper. On what many believe was the 13th day of the month of Nisan, Jesus and the Apostles—13 persons—ate the Passover meal together, celebrating God’s rescue of the Hebrew people, their new beginning, and like the Apollo 13 astronauts, had their evening interrupted by disaster: Jesus was betrayed, arrested, and crucified. A pretty bad Friday, right?
Wrong.
It’s universally known as Good Friday because it occasioned the definitive impossible rescue. On that day, because he “so loved the world,” God offered the human race a second chance, a new beginning. Therefore…
To all of you friggatriskaidekaphobes, I humbly offer this re-think : Friday the 13th isn’t the ultimate “bad luck” day, it’s the ultimate good luck day! It’s the day love reached its apex. Hence the number 13 doesn’t mean the end, it means: a new month, a new year, a new foot, a new chance at life. So happy second chance, happy new beginning…
Happy Friday the 13th!
Mitch Teemley 
Delightful! Our favorite (and only) son was born on a Friday the 13th.
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Aha, still further proof!
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as if the 11th
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JFYI: Friday the 13th today and Wall Street is on a strong upswing- despite all warnings 🙂
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Yes!
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13 makes me think of 11 due to the television lineup
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You might also note the 13 original colonies became the 13 original United States, and all the 13s that accompanied those events. The 13th Amendment of our Constitution abolished slavery, hardly a bad luck event! Other good events that occurred on a Friday, the 13th include Puerto Ricans offered US birthright citizenship, Bill Gates stepped aside as chairman of Microsoft, the Olsen twins were born (disputable if this is in the “good” or “bad” category), President Johnson signed Title VII, an executive order to end gender discrimination (‘course, that was without telling Congress??), the famous HOLLYWOOD sign was erected, Black Sabbath released their first album… wait a minute. Hmm, maybe the 13th IS an unlucky day! 😰
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;>)
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the 11th
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I happen to have a real black cat on my lap as I read this and I don’t consider it bad luck.
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Awww…
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Same to you, Mitch!
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Thanks, Rosaliene!
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Good read. 😃
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Thank you.
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You make a very good point, Mitch, that it’s all in how you look at it. Our dear little dog was hit by a car and died on Friday October 13. The most significant thing about the timing to me, however, was that we were about to start the intensive rehearsal schedule for our Halloween outreach, which I directed. an outdoor multimedia production depicting the Resurrection and triumph of Jesus – “Satan’s Worst Nightmare” – presented on (You guessed it) Halloween night. This ministry had seen more and more “spiritual warfare” over the years. (Apparently the enemy doesn’t like to be mocked on “his day.”)
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Understandable, Annie.
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day 11
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I was thoroughly convinced Friday the 13th was a lucky day when I was a kid. My father told me that regularly since I was born on that day. School friends told me otherwise. Dad was right. God bless, Mitch! Great message!
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Aha, if you were born on Friday the 13th then that puts the issue to rest once and for all, Nancy!
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if you remember world trade center collapsed day in september was
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Pingback: Happy Friday the 13th! – Uncoffined
Well, I’ll be jiggered! Who knew?!
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;>)
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“13 persons—ate the Passover meal together.” I imagine that has slipped by without notice to many. Great perspective, Mitch.
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Thanks, Manette.
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Same to you!
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Great post! Love to learn a new word.
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Even if it’s borderline unpronounceable, Jane? ;>)
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I tried to say it aloud with no luck! 🙂
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My 13th birthday fell on a Friday the 13th, yet here I am, 67 years later relatively unharmed. And because Jesus went to the cross willingly on that very Good Friday, I shall remain unharmed on the day of judgement. Thanks for the informative post. Gotta go now, it’s almost time for my birthday pie.
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Yes! And happy birthday, Robert!
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of 11 & 61 years old
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I indulge in thinking Friday the 13th is my lucky day… 🙂
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Hi Mitch,
Yep. Nothing to fear. We make it worse by worrying.
Thanks, Gary
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I was born on Friday the 13th…and November to add a bit of a punch 😁😁😁
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Well, we flew cross country yesterday, which was Friday 13th as we are one day ahead. All went really well 😉
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Great post!
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Thanks, Juliet!
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As you undoubtedly know, I am of Sicilian heritage. My parents were born in Sicily and I have many relatives who live there and in Italy. The number 13 is considered lucky in Italy. Associated with the great goddess Feronia, fertility and the lunar cycles, the number is thought to bring prosperity and life — quite the opposite view than that of the western world. Friday the 13th is a fortuitous day for births, weddings and other momentous times in life. So, bring it on and throw in a few black cats for good measure! 🐈⬛
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I didn’t know that, Nancy. Evviva il numero tredici!
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Thank you for the smile – on a gray winter day here!
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My pleasure, Karen.
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I love a positive spin whenever possible!
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Excellent! I mostly greet every Friday the 13th with a yawn and a shoulder shrug, but your enlightened outlook now helps me actually look forward to CELEBRATING it next time around. Thanks, Mitch!
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My pleasure, Russell!
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OMG! 13th of every month 🙏
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