How to Battle Triskaidekaphobia (Fear of the Number 13)

The third Friday the 13th of 2009 occurred in November - the maximum number of unlucky Friday the 13ths that can occur in a year. Who believes in these silly superstitions? Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt did, for starters.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• good luck charms or mojo OR
• a healthy skepticism about superstition OR
• the power of positive thinking - mind over matter.

1. 
    
   Magically delicious, but do they pack suffcient anti-evil eye punch?

   The first skirmish in the battle against triskaidekaphobia is to know thine enemy. Just why do we distrust the number 13? The prankster Loki crashed a party of 12 Norse gods in Aasgard and became an uninivted thirteenth guest. In an eerie parallel, Judas Iscariot was the 13th guest at Jesus Christ's last supper.
   Some elevators and buildings have no 13th floor - or they christen them with a pseudonym like 12A.
   FDR refused to travel on the 13th.
   Then, of course, there are all those Fridy the 13th movies with the seemingly unstoppable mass killer Jason.
   Even the most level headed among us must occasionally pause to ponder the tragedy of Apollo 13, which launched at the CST military time of 13:13.

2. 
    
   Rabbit's feet: not so lucky for the bunny.

   For the devoutly superstitious, potential ill might be neutralized by a 4 leaf clover, horseshoe, rabbit's foot or other lucky talisman.
   You can also take heart in some positive #13 associations, including the 13 original colonies of the United States, or a baker's dozen; i.e. when Apu tosses Homer Simpson an extra glazed doughnut being that he's such a good customer.

3. 
    
   "U" or "n" the horseshoe controversy continues.

   For those agnostic in matters supernatural, or if you just want to play it safe; consider those who are most vulnerable to witchcraft. It's the folks most inclined to believe in it. Mind over matter is a force to be reckoned with, and you can arm yourself with the power of postitive thinking. As Carl Kolchak the vampire hunting "Nightstalker" said, "Think over and over, it couldn't happen here."

Tips & Warnings

• See more by this writer in examiner.com boston under PETS and in "Pet Gazette" (available online).
• This correspondent always considered Freddy Krueger of the "Nightmare on Elm Street" flicks a far more charismatic and cooler villain than Jason of "Friday the 13th" - so you've got that going for you.
• Bugs Bunny points out that the original owners of rabbits' feet aren't all that lucky; facing dogs, foxes, etc.; not to mention Elmer Fudd.
• Black Friday is an entirely different ballgame: a song by Steely Dan as well as the day that merchants traditionally see their ledgers start turning a profit i.e. "going into the black".
• Some say horseshoes should be placed like a "U" others say the ends should be down so the luck pours into the room.

[housejunkie]

on 11/22/2009 very interesting!

[braintees]

on 11/18/2009 Fun read! I just try to convince myself and say that "Friday the 13th is a LUCKY day", because yes, you are right - it IS a state of mind! Thanks for an interesting article! 5* rec