We've survived another Friday the 13th!

I've lived through another Friday the 13^th without any disaster happening to me. You dear reader, the millions living in the United Kingdom and Europe, and the billions living in the World have also survived again.

 

Friggatriskaidekaphobia

Perhaps friggatriskaidekaphobics – or paraskevidekatriaphobics to use the more modern terminology – who believe that superstitions are reality, in that they fear Friday the 13^th, as the unluckiest day of all, may be questioning their phobia.

It is interesting to note that there are no meaningful references to the unsubstantiated thesis of this day being an omen of disaster until after the latter period of the 19^th Century. It would seem to be a modern phobia. 

 

Unluckiest day changes.

How can such a fear of a specific day and number combination be rationalised, when in Greece, Spain, and Spanish speaking countries, it is Tuesday the 13^th that is considered the unluckiest day. In Italy 13 is considered a lucky number so they perpetuate the myth by choosing Friday the 17^th as the infamous day. This makes me wonder. What does a friggatriskaidekaphobic believe when visiting one of the European countries on its alternative, supposedly, unlucky day? Is their fear transferred to a Tuesday or the 17^th or do they ignore it?
  

EuroMillions Lottery.

My earlier mention of Europe brings to mind the EuroMillions Lottery as a contradiction that Friday the 13^th is an unlucky day. The first draw of the lottery was held on Friday 13^th February 2004. There was one lucky ticket holder who won the jackpot prize of £10, 143,000.00 . Since that first draw there have been sixteen further draws held on Friday the 13^th . Many millions, of players have won various amounts on those days. Between the inaugural date and Friday 13^th September 2013 there have been seven Friday-the-13^th draws when a jackpot has been paid out. Nine lucky winners between them have received £236,570,199.00 – On Friday 13^th May 2011 one ticket holder won £105,892,179.00 – how's that for luck?.

I wonder if paraskevidekatriaphobics have a flutter on the EuroMillions Friday-the-13^th draw: surely not; they know it would be a waste of their money – don't they?

© Elliot Sampford 2013