Do you suffer from ? My husband does, and it is deep rooted for him. And according to a Dr. Donald Dossey, who coined the phrase "paraskavedekatriaphobia" at least 21 million Americans suffer from this phobia. Paraskavedekatriaphobia is the fear of Friday the 13th.
My husband is extremely superstitious. He attributes it to a) being Russian and b) growing up in the theater. He has a double whammy on him!
According to the Mirriam-Webster online dictionary, the word superstition means:
1 a : a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation b : an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition
2 : a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary
My husband is better than some who are gripped by fear on this dreaded date. He does leave the house, but I will admit he wakes up believing that things will go wrong on this dreaded date. And so, it does. He is already upset, angry, fearful and dreading the rest of the day. He is convinced something bad will happen to him, thus it will.
Me? I can't say I suffer from it. As a matter of fact, my oldest daughter was born on a Friday the 13th, it was a full moon, and technically we were on the 13th floor of the hospital. However, the floors were numbered 11, 12, 14. I am guessing the hospital administration suffered from paraskavedekatriaphobia too. I may have a touch of Arachnophobia, but then again I have been bitten THREE times by brown recluse spiders. Musophobia has crossed my mind when a rat jumped on my shoulder in the barn. And I do know I have alektorophobia, it has something to do with an attack perpetrated on me by an unruly rooster, leaving a bruise that covered by entire left backside. But paraskavedekatriaphobia is not on my list.
How about you? Are you staying home today?
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT
Larry, sorry, but that is what you have!
Martha, yes indeed, that is what makes you so darn special, LOL. That and a slew of other things!
Nov 13, 2009 01:21 AM
Helping people in transition - Cary, NC
Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor
I've always known fear of the #13 as triskaidekaphobia. But paraskavedekatriaphobia works too!
Great post for a Friday the 13th!
Nov 13, 2009 01:43 AM
Sine & Monaghan Realtors, Real Living - Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Providing the very best of service to Sellers and
The number 13 has never bothered ME at all. But, I do know several people who are freaked-out by it all the time. I've had some clients who have refused to Close on a deal on the 13th of the month. Oh well. . . we just "roll with it" when we have to.
Nov 13, 2009 02:07 AM
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally
Glad I read the whole post with the title I though Iwas going to get an explanation as to why I don't like parakeets. Goes back to having one do it's 'dooty' on my head, maybe it was on a Friday the 13th. Thanks for sharing.
Nov 13, 2009 03:00 AM
Re/Max Chay Realty Inc., Brokerage - New Tecumseth, ON
South Simcoe, Caledon, King, Orangeville Real Esta
Andrea, a well-written and whimsical post, one of the best I have seen about this "controversial" day. Cheers ... and don't let the bedbugs, er I mean spiders bite ;-)
Nov 13, 2009 03:39 AM
Liz Loadholt- AgentOwned Realty- Covering SC - Mount Pleasant, SC
Realtor--Broker-in-charge - Trainer--Relocation Director Covering SC
Andrea --- "paraskavedekatriaphobia" is a word that I have not heard -- but no, I'm not superstitious
Nov 13, 2009 05:30 AM
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT
Craig, I don't know but I googled it and voila! Thank you!
Tom, there are many who don't like this day, doesn't bother me but who am I?
Ed, LOL, I would not like them either if that were the case! And thank you!
Hi Chris, well thank you for that compliment! LOL, no spiders here!
Liz, I had not heard it either to be honest. :D
Nov 13, 2009 05:54 AM
RE/MAX REAL ESTATE TODAY, Executive Broker 901-488-9590 - Marion, AR
Realtor - Marion Arkansas Homes for Sale
Andrea, I don't think about Friday 13th much at all, but I can relay to your rooster story. I hate to admit it on AR publicly, I am absolutely fear of live chicken, not the baby, I mean their mom and dad. I will freeze up when I see a live one around me, no kidding. lol
Nov 13, 2009 06:14 AM
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT
Rita, I don't like them either. That is the one thing on the farm I don't do. No chickens, no collecting the eggs, no feeding them, LOL. Nope, not at all... never. I had a bruise that should have won an award. The bugger came up behind me while I was bottle feeding a calf and got me so bad. And what, you might ask became of him? He pecked the wrong person... I will say no more.
Nov 13, 2009 07:20 AM
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist
My husband should. His dad was born on Friday the 13th and died at the age of 31 on Friday the 13th. His oldest brother was born on Friday the 13th and died at the age of 13 months on Friday the 13th. His youngest brother was born on Friday the 13th and died 13 minutes after birth on Friday the 13th.
Nov 13, 2009 08:26 AM
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert
Andrea, I thought that I suffered from "paraskavedekatriaphobia", but since I let them schedule me for a colonoscopy today, I guess maybe I don't :)
Nov 13, 2009 11:22 AM
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT
Jim, If all that happened around me on Friday the 13th I would suffer from it too. YIKES! Give that man a hug from me, a big huge Friday the 13th Andrea style hug, ok?
Dedra, I never know the date, and can never remember dates. Here is what I tell my friends and family. If you want me to remember your birthday, remind me of it. If you don't remind me and I forget, then it is your fault that I didn't wish you a happy birthday. Hows that? LOL.
George, oh boy. Hope everything was ok! Guess you are over your paraskavedekatriaphobia!
Nov 13, 2009 11:49 AM
RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA - Cambridge, MA
Cambridge MA Realtor
Hi Andrea ~ It gives me momentary pause but that's about it. I heard somewhere that this is the third Friday the 13th of the year and three is the most you could have in a year. So we're done for now.
Liz
Nov 13, 2009 03:40 PM
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT
Liz, since today is the 14th, and my most excellent La Peppina Espresso maker died yesterday, I might be rethinking my postion on this whole thing....
Nov 13, 2009 11:29 PM
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON
Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!
Hey Andrea, we were reading this on the 14th, and our 13th was uneventful. We do believe in mind or matter so it is a good thing we didn't read your post on the 13th. You might have got our minds engaged.
Nov 14, 2009 12:33 AM
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT
Hi Al & Peggy, good thing, LOL! But my beloved coffee maker died on the 13th, so I am rethinking my position on this....
Nov 14, 2009 12:35 AM
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036
As a kid we always had roosters and chickens and I was forever running from the roosters because they are meanies! As for the rat OMG! Thank goodness all it did was jump on you. I would have had a heart attack! Friday the 13th has proven to be a bad day for me a time or two but no, no phobia here.
Nov 14, 2009 07:21 AM
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT
Hi Phil, whew, good thing for that! I know my husband would have asked to close on another day, LOL.
Debra, I am petrified of roosters, LOL. I love to look at them however, but through a chicken wire fence or from the safety of the house looking outside! Yeah, always wear a hat when you go in an active barn, what can I say. The rat probably died from fright with the scream and dance that came from me! That thing jumped down and took off so fast it wasn't even funny!
Nov 14, 2009 10:19 PM
Top Agent Plus - Middleboro, MA
Tap into Judy's real estate expertise & resources.
Andrea - How did I miss this post? Thanks to Pat Kennedy for pointing it out.
My son was born on the 13th. If not for a leap year, he would have turned 13 on Friday the 13th.
I also dislike spiders, don't like rats AND definitely have that rooster phobia. They are mean! HA HA
Loved your post. Oh, sorry to hear about your loss (La Peppina). Sniff :-(
Nov 15, 2009 10:53 AM
License # 01767321 - La Verne, CA
Realtor, SRES, SoCAL, A REALTOR YOU CAN TRUST
seriously cute blog. No, I'm not superstitious - BUT my husband is a worry wart and thinks every thing that can go wrong WILL.
Nov 16, 2009 07:51 AM
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Andrea Swiedler
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