FEAR OF FRIDAY THE 13TH
If you have a phobia about "Friday the 13th" then 1998 isn't going to be a good year for you. There are three "Friday the 13ths" in the upcoming year: February 13, March 13 and November 13.
For centuries, the simple combination of Friday and the number 13 has held an aura of impending doom and misfortune. This February 13 should be no exception, says Dr. Thomas Fernsler, an assistant professor at Mansfield University in Pennsylvania who gives talks about triskaidekaphobia--or fear of the number 13.
The origin of the phobia dates as far back as the early days of Christianity, says Fernsler.
"There were 13 persons at Christ's last supper before his arrest. He was crucified on a Friday. Since then, the number 13 has been considered an omen of bad luck. When 13 combines with a Friday, it is supposed to portend a double dose of misfortune," says Fernsler. He'll be speaking on the topic of triskaidekaphobia at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics meeting on February 13. That meeting takes place in Dallas at The Infomart.
There are several examples of superstitions about the number 13 in the 20th century.
"Apollo Lunar Mission number 13 was aborted while enroute to the moon in 1970 because of an explosion of a fuel cell in the service module," he notes. The flight left the launching pad at 13:13 (CST) hours military time and the accident occurred on April 13.
Superstition about the number 13 still exists. The number is omitted in the numbering of hospital rooms and the floors of tall buildings. Among the famous, President Franklin Roosevelt was said to avoid leaving on trips on the 13th of the month. Even Roosevelt's death, on April 12, 1945, seems to signal his haste to depart his life before the 13th, says Fernsler.
"Studies show that millions of dollars are lost each Friday the 13th because of absenteeism and changes in travel plans," says Fernsler. He doesn't believe the number 13 has any evil powers.
Here are some additional facts about the number 13:
* The OPEC oil cartel has 13 member nations.
* On August 12, 1930, Queen Elizabeth' sister, Princess Margaret, was born in Scotland, but officials there did not immediately record her birth because the next registration number was 13. They waited three days for the birth of a commoner so that Margaret could be assigned the number 14.
* The first person to die as the result of a car accident was a 67-year-old man (add the digits in 67) who was struck while leaving a streetcar in New York City on September 13, 1899.
* During the Salem, Massachusetts witch trials of 1692, 13 women were executed. There are 13 witches in a coven, too.
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Editors: Fernsler has more examples. If you decide to examine the topic of triskaidekaphobia, feel free to contact him at 717-662-4569 (office) or 717-724-4581 (home). His speech at The Informart starts at 9:15 a.m. The Infomart's number is 214-746-5987. Please contact Steve Infanti of Dick Jones Communications at 814-867-1963 if you need any assistance. Please contact me if you need any additional assistance.
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