According to recent studies, almost a quarter of the population of Europe are wary of the number 13. If this number falls on Friday, then the number of negatively-minded people almost doubles. In the United States, rates are even higher: one in three Americans believes in the magical power of this date. But you must admit, and most Russians are quite wary of this fact, if the 13th falls on Friday.
"Black" Friday from a psychological point of view
Psychologists around the world have their own explanation of why Friday, 13, is considered a bad day. They assure: it’s not at all a certain magic of that day or number, it is in the heads of the people themselves. Most of those who believe in its negative energy, initially set themselves up for anxiety and anxiety, throughout the day people subconsciously expect trouble and, as a result, only negativity and notice it, finding in every little thing confirmation of their own fears.
Fateful Date History
There are many versions of why Friday, 13, is considered a bad day. Briefly, one can say this: for the most part they are rooted in pagan and Christian antiquity, giving this date a certain shade of devilry.
So, according to one of the beliefs, on this day 12 witches arranged their sabbath, the thirteenth participant of which was Satan himself. And the interpreters of the biblical Scripture are sure that it was on "Black Friday" that Eve treated her husband Adam with a forbidden fruit in the bowels of paradise. There is also a version that the first fratricide in the world, when Cain killed Abel, according to the Holy Scriptures, also happened on that Friday. Scandinavian mythology interprets this day in its own way - Friday, 13. They explain why this is a bad day from the point of view of ancient legends: in time immemorial, 12 apostles lived in peace and quiet in Odin’s palace, it was after the appearance of the thirteenth assistant that hostility began inhabitants, and as a result of one of the quarrels, the revered god Baldr died .
Dangerous Superstition
Superstitious people come across not only among believers or mystically minded individuals. Since 1791, for example, the British authorities have been actively fighting this superstition among sailors. Explains their fears, why Friday, 13, is considered a bad day, one, in general, an ordinary case for those times. The fact is that on one of the Fridays with an unfortunate number, a ship called "Friday" set sail for free sailing, and no one had ever seen him again. Coincidence or not, but ship construction also began on Friday. The number of superstitions regarding this day of the week among sailors after this incident has increased significantly.
Among those who believed in the negative energy of Friday, the thirteenth, there were many famous names. Napoleon Bonaparte, for example, canceled the battle, if they were on Friday, the thirteenth. Bismarck refused that day to put his signature on any, even the most insignificant documents. Some US presidents, such as Franklin Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover, also tried not to make important decisions on this ill-fated day.
Friday the thirteenth, as a diagnosis
Psychiatry has its own opinion on why Friday is so frightening to people. 13. Why is this a bad day for many, explains one of the leading psychologists: people who believe in such superstitions really have a lot of trouble on this day. And if you intentionally set yourself up for failure in the morning, then they will happen. In psychiatry, the panic fear of this date is regarded as a diagnosis and has a definite name: "paraskevidecatriaphobia."
Therefore, before succumbing to general nervousness, ask yourself the question: why is Friday, 13, considered a bad day? Are these not our own inventions, which are better not to take into account at all? If you can’t get rid of bad thoughts, psychologists advise you to help yourself a little bit. It would be nice for believers to visit a church, put a candle for relatives and friends, pray and calm down. Atheists can be advised to set themselves up as skeptical as possible. Better yet, try to make this Friday “fun.” Read jokes, watch comedies, chat with friends - and you will see that this Friday will be no worse than the rest of the days.
Thirteen is a lucky number
Why Friday, 13, is considered a bad day, for example, the Jews, for whom it is considered quite respected, do not understand. It was on the thirteenth of the day, according to Jewish belief, the Messiah descended to earth. Even Israel itself is divided into thirteen parts, Kabbalah has 13 sources, thirteen streams of balsam, thirteen gates.
Maya Indians also revered this number, they considered it a symbol of the favor of the gods. So why is Friday, 13, considered a bad day? Photos and videos from various sources, various horror stories and fictional stories, even modern cinema - all this successfully cultivates and supports the myth of the terrible purpose of this date. There can be only one piece of advice: one should not succumb to general panic and give this day a meaning that is not inherent to it. Believe only in good signs, then life will thank you with a positive!