2 3 Saturday and Triskaidekaphobia | Ballet Webb

Saturday, December 15, 2018

Saturday and Triskaidekaphobia



Saturday and Triskaidekaphobia

A superstition common to many – not just theater people – is a fear of the number thirteen. There’s even a name for this: Triskaidekaphobia  [trih-ska-de-kah-fo-bi-yah].

Especially if it involves a Friday (and every year has at least one), the number thirteen is heavy with superstition. It isn’t difficult to find people who swear that bad things always happen to them on Friday the 13th and there are words for this fear: paraskevidekatriaphobia  and friggatriskaidekaphobia. As a side note, many high-rise buildings do not have a named 13th floor, and many elevators don’t go to a 13th floor.

President Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th day of any month and would not have 13 guests at a meal. Napoleon and President Herbert Hoover were also triskaidekaphobic.

The word’s origins are Greek, from tris, “three”, kai, “and”, deka, “ten” (so making thirteen), plus phobia, “fear, flight”. That being said, the word first appeared relatively recently, historically speaking, in 1911 (in Coriat’s Abnormal Psychology).

Now you know another fun word! 

From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #:127
“Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13.”

Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“I'm not nearly as afraid of Friday the 13th as I am of the people who are afraid of Friday the 13th.”
- Unknown

                Help expand the knowledge base!
 Leave a comment about any instructions, ideas, or images that worked best for you!

My latest books are coloring books! They are available on Amazon.

Want to know more about me? Read my interview at Ballet Connections:

Or "Like" me on my Facebook Author Page:

Or visit my Pinterest page:

For interesting articles involving mental health:



No comments:

Post a Comment