Friggatriskaidekaphobia comes from Frigg, the Norse goddess of wisdom after whom Friday is named, and the Greek words triskaideka, meaning 13, and phobia, meaning fear. Paraskevidekatriaphobia is also derived from Greek: paraskeví translates as Friday, and dekatria is another way of saying 13. Experts have suggested that friggatriskaidekaphobia affects millions of people and estimate that businesses - especially airlines - suffer economic losses on Friday the 13th.
Friskaidekaphobia, or the fear of the number 13, is even more widespread. As a matter of fact many taller buildings, hotels, and hospitals skip the 13th floor and many airports do not have gates numbered 13. In many parts of the world, having 13 people at the dinner table is considered bad luck. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt famously suffered from triskaidekaphobia. He refused to travel on the 13th day of any month and would not host a dinner party with 13 guests.
According to superstition, there are a number of things you can do to ward off ill fate. Scientists suggest knocking on wood, crossing your fingers, avoiding black cats, not looking at the full moon through a pane of glass, and throwing salt over each shoulder.
Me? I’m going to give my dogs a belly rub.
Cheers!
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