Speaking Volumes

I had no idea what to blog about today until I came into work and Su pointed out that today was Friday the 13^th. Paraskavedekatriaphoibia is a fear of Friday the 13^th (TODAY!). According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute an estimated 17 to 21 million people in the US are affected by a fear of this day. “Some people are so paralyzed by fear that they avoid their normal routines in doing business, taking flights or even getting out of bed.”

So are you reading this from bed? Did you call out of work?

In an ironic twist I also read that "fewer accidents and reports of fire and theft occur on Friday the 13^th because people tend to be more careful or just stay at home.”

After some searching around on the Internet I found a lot of really interesting and funny facts about the day, so let me indulge you:

Many hospitals have no room 13, while some tall buildings skip the 13th floor and some airline terminals omit Gate 13.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th day of any month and would never host 13 guests at a meal.

Napoleon and President Herbert Hoover were also triskaidekaphobic, with an abnormal fear of the number 13.

Mark Twain once was the 13th guest at a dinner party. A friend warned him not to go. "It was bad luck," Twain later told the friend. "They only had food for 12."

Superstitious diners in Paris can hire a quatorzieme, or professional 14th guest.

The origins of the superstition were so varied that I would have a hard time listing them here, but if you want more info, just google “Friday the 13^th, and you'll be amazed at what you read.

Here are some books on luck (good and bad) available here at the Saxton B:

Beware! It's Friday the 13th / by Kate McMullan

Good Luck Bear/ Foley, Greg

The good luck cat / Joy Harjo

Lotto, how to wheel a fortune : easy to use, scientific balanced wheeling systems that dramatically improve your chances of winning at Lotto / by Gail Howard.

Any Friday the 13th or other superstition stories out there? Please share!