Friday the 13th
Paraskevidekatriaphobia: the fear of Friday the 13th.
I am not a superstitious person, but I do believe that people act especially stupid on certain days of the year; namely on a full moon, Halloween, New Years Eve, and Friday the 13th.
Hospital ER’s are especially busy and many women go into labor unexpectedly during a full moon. These are not scientific observations, but many health care professionals who work in hospitals would agree that these examples are supported by anecdotal evidence.
According to myth, All Hallows Eve (or Halloween) is a mystical time when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. Pagans of old, fearful of ghosts and other things that go bump in the night, lit fires and made sacrifices to the dead. Today we carry on those traditions by lighting bonfires and jack-o-lanterns, handing out candy to trick-or-treaters and dressing up as creatures of the night.
Many stupid things are done in the name of ringing in the New Year; unattainable and pointless resolutions are made and relationships are hastily begun or ended by people who are terrified to be alone on such a symbolic night. New Years Eve is also a time for drunken revelry; not having to worry about getting killed by a drunk driver makes celebrating at home an attractive option for many, myself included.
Contrary to Hollywood movies and urban legends, masked axe murderers are not something people commonly worry about encountering on Friday the 13th; however, many people who get fired or have a car accident on this day will claim that bad mojo is partially to blame. Who among us can resist the easy out of laying blame on superstition rather than taking responsibility for bad decisions?
Like I said, I’m not a superstitious person but I plan to stay close to home today…just in case.
I am not a superstitious person, but I do believe that people act especially stupid on certain days of the year; namely on a full moon, Halloween, New Years Eve, and Friday the 13th.
Hospital ER’s are especially busy and many women go into labor unexpectedly during a full moon. These are not scientific observations, but many health care professionals who work in hospitals would agree that these examples are supported by anecdotal evidence.
According to myth, All Hallows Eve (or Halloween) is a mystical time when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. Pagans of old, fearful of ghosts and other things that go bump in the night, lit fires and made sacrifices to the dead. Today we carry on those traditions by lighting bonfires and jack-o-lanterns, handing out candy to trick-or-treaters and dressing up as creatures of the night.
Many stupid things are done in the name of ringing in the New Year; unattainable and pointless resolutions are made and relationships are hastily begun or ended by people who are terrified to be alone on such a symbolic night. New Years Eve is also a time for drunken revelry; not having to worry about getting killed by a drunk driver makes celebrating at home an attractive option for many, myself included.
Contrary to Hollywood movies and urban legends, masked axe murderers are not something people commonly worry about encountering on Friday the 13th; however, many people who get fired or have a car accident on this day will claim that bad mojo is partially to blame. Who among us can resist the easy out of laying blame on superstition rather than taking responsibility for bad decisions?
Like I said, I’m not a superstitious person but I plan to stay close to home today…just in case.
posted by Patricia at
Friday, October 13, 2006
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