Is Friday the 13th truly cursed, or do you have paraskevidekatriaphobia?
It's Friday the 13th and you will either be holding on to your lucky charm or having a Friday the 13th movie marathon. But did you know there is a word for people who are scared of the date.
Welcome to the curious case of paraskevidekatriaphobia — the fear of Friday the 13th.
The fear of Friday the 13th has its roots in triskaidekaphobia, which is the fear of the number 13. The number 13 in cultures and communities is seen as an 'unlucky' number, which is why you will find missing hotel floors, skipped seat rows on planes, and housing units that jump from 12 to 14.
According to ancient Norse legends, Loki (not Marvel's Tom Hiddleston Loki) was the 13th guest at a divine dinner party that went terribly wrong.
Then the Last Supper had 13 people, including Judas the Betrayer, followed by Jesus's crucifixion, which is believed to have happened on a Friday.
In parts of Europe, Friday was once literally known as Hangman's Day.
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