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It's Friday the 13th, 2013!! Are You Superstitious?

By
Home Stager

It's Friday the 13, 2013!  Are You Superstitious?

 

Yes, for some people, this day can present some difficulties.  If you suffer from friday the 13thfriggatriskaidekaphobia, which is the fear of Friday the 13th, you may find some reason to stay home today.

 

Or, you may take extra precautions while you drive,  bring your special lucky charm to your closing set for today or ask someone else to hang that picture if you’re doing a Staging today.

Thankfully, Friday the 13th occurs only twice this year.  The next Friday the 13th is in December.  It occurs only once in 2014 but 3 times in 2015!

Or……. you could have Triskaidekaphobia, which is a fear of the number 13.   Why else are there no “13th” floors in many buildings?!

From what I’ve read, the anxiety or fear of this day stems from our Western culture, as it was the 13th apostle or guest at the Last Supper, who betrayed Christ, who was then crucified on a Friday.

Another reason, as it were, is that “13” follows “12.”   What, you say?  Twelve is believed to be a “complete” number.  There are 12 months in the year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 Apostles of Jesus, Friday the 13th 12 gods of Olympus, 12 tribes of Israel and 12 labors of Hercules.

Given this, “13” just doesn’t sound too attractive, does it?

 

If you’re curious/interested, you can find interesting facts about Friday the 13th from “Dr.13” otherwise known as Thomas Fernsler, an associate policy scientist at the University of Delaware.

Just to whet your appetite:

“ The British Navy is notoriously afraid of Friday the 13th. Nonetheless, it built a ship named Friday the 13th. On its maiden voyage, the vessel left dock on a Friday the 13th and was never heard from again.”

And one more tidbit, just to somehow keep this related to business:

It is estimated that this fear of Friday the 13th has cost businesses up to $900 million due to people’s fear of flying or doing business that day. (this is just an estimate)

What about you?  

Any Friday the 13th phobias/fears/superstitions?



Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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Comments(35)

Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Love the 13th, Friday or not!  Happy First Kiss Anniversary Tammy!

Sep 13, 2013 03:38 AM
Phil Stevenson, CRMP
PS Mortgage Lending 305-791-4874 or 888-845-6630 - Miami, FL
"Mortgage Nerd" in Miami, Florida and Texas

Kathy, thanks for the information. It's not that I'm superstitious, come to think of it, I didn't even realize it was Friday the 13th until now, but there's always an impulse to blame the day because it has a reputation of being unlucky. Like falling down after seeing a black cat, breaking a mirror, etc. It's purely psychological and the things we give value to. Friday the 13th is like any other day.

Sep 13, 2013 04:05 AM
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Kathy, now that these phobias are clearly recognized by definition their becoming syndromes is not far behind.  Watch for major drug companies seeking government research grants to step in.  With $900,000,000 at stake they'll find a cure! 

Sep 13, 2013 04:26 AM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

I never worried about auspicious dates or numbers-I guess I'm a blithering idiot but I prefer to make my own luck thank you, every day of the year.

Sep 13, 2013 05:55 AM
Kimo Stowell
HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 - Honolulu, HI
REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i

Aloha Kathy,

I always love the Friday 13th Facts. Thanks for sharing the link. I believe the back luck connotations go back as far as ancient Babylonia, In Hammurabi Code the numbered laws skip from twelve to fourteen, it is speculated because the number thirteen somehow represents the goddess of the dead according to an ancient song of lamentation.

Peace,

 

Sep 13, 2013 06:10 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Bobbie- I'm not superstitious about Friday the 13th but I haven't seen any of those movies.

Sheila- I have some lucky numbers but not an unlucky number.

Richard- oh how funny, that's my brother's birthday!

Gita- OOPS! I should have kept my mouth shut. 

Gabe- and knock wood!

BARFF- saw your post.  I'm not either... bite my tongue.

Dorie- I saw it!  Happy Birthday to Hudson. 

Liz- Glad you're taking today off!  Enjoy!

Scott- get back to work!  And good luck!

Noah- that means fall is around your corner!!!

Kristin- keeping my fingers crossed for you.

 

Sep 13, 2013 06:43 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Patty- I don't think I know of any friends who are superstitious.

Tammy- I love the love story that you and Your Donald have! Happy Friday the 13th!

Jared and Amanda- isn't that how it goes.  Once you think about it, you're careful about everything.

Jeffrey- hope that everything has gone smoothly for you today. 

Susan-don't you love her story!

Phil- it is for me!  I think if you start thinking about it, then you're overly careful and things happen. 

Kevin- I have a cure..... just eliminate it from calendars!

Joanna- I agree.  Things happen.  That's it. 

Kimo- that is so interesting!  I'm going to have to read more about it. 

Sep 13, 2013 06:48 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Kathy, I usually don't care about Friday the 13th but this year I got an e-mail from an old friend telling me she has terminal cancer. I'm going to remember this one.

Sep 13, 2013 08:26 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Janice- I am so sorry to hear that.  It's something like this that will cause you to remember this day.  I will say a little prayer for her. 

Sep 13, 2013 10:16 AM
Bette Gottwald
UNITED REAL ESTATE | Central PA - Mechanicsburg, PA
"Bet"on Central PA Real Estate!

Kathy, I know so much more about Friday the 13th thanks to your great post, thanks for sharing!  I am not superstitious at all, as a matter of fact, a year ago July, (Friday the 13th)  I won BIG at a casino in Atlantic City.

Sep 13, 2013 10:26 AM
Anna Dovger
Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX
Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX

Hi Kathy, I am SOOOO glad it is Friday, so I don't really care about it being the 13th. Finally get to relax. 

Sep 13, 2013 10:44 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Kathy, I am humored by all of this.  I am not superstitious at all. Yet, I do feel 13 is a lucky number for me.  Given the reveal that happened today I still say 13 is my lucky number. 

Sep 13, 2013 10:45 AM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Kathy~ 13 is my lucky number! When met with some clients about 2 weeks ago and when we were talking about when to list it, I quickly said, "Friday, the 13th". 

Sep 13, 2013 11:25 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

OMG!  That's why I'm having such a crappy day!  Friday the 13th, and 2013 to boot!  Now I understand.  

Sep 13, 2013 12:15 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Bette- now that's the total opposite of what we think of about Friday the 13th!

Anna- same here!  I'm watching football all weekend. (I hope)

Kathleen- I think you are making our own luck!  I call them habits! LOL

Donna- I think I took my GRE's on a Friday the 13th!

Pat- oh no!   It's almost 11 pm EST, so 1 more hour and it will be the 14th.  No more Friday the 13th.

Sep 13, 2013 12:52 PM
Florida Tolbert Team Keller Williams Advantage
Keller Williams Advantage III Realty in Lake Nona - Orlando, FL
Keller Williams Land Luxury Division Specialist

More reporting on the silliness that is Friday the 13th.  Too much Kathy.  It's jsut another day.

Sep 13, 2013 01:54 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

No such issue here Kathy but I've seen my mother drive 20 miles out of the way because a black cat crossed the road in front of her.

Sep 13, 2013 08:35 PM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

I did not even realize it was Friday the 13th until about 5 pm yesterday.........

Sep 13, 2013 08:50 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

All kinds of things attributed to this day.....akin to the happenings during a full moon !

Sep 13, 2013 09:01 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Kevin- yes but it's fun to try to pronounce the words!

James- trust me, I'm not doing that!

Barbara-Jo- you were too busy fishing and catching barracuda!!!

Sally& David- Oh so much is attributed to the full moon. 

Sep 15, 2013 10:33 AM