Afraid of terror tales on Friday the 13th?

Dubai: Wake up to Friday 13th, a day of bad luck in English, German and Portuguese-speaking cultures.

The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskave-dekatriaphobia, a word almost as fearful to pronounce as the superstition surrounding it.

It comes from a Greek word meaning Friday, 13 and phobia. Strangely enough, in Greece and Spain it is Tuesday the 13th which is associated with misfortune.

It may be classified as a funny old superstition but it is no joke, especially for business. It is estimated that close to $1 billion (Dh3.67 billion) will be lost due to people not travelling on a Friday the 13th.

A study in the British Medical Journal has shown that there is a significant increase in traffic related accidents on such Fridays.

In the Spanish-speaking world, it is Tuesday the 13th that supposedly brings bad luck. The origin of the superstition is not clear.

Some believe it started on Friday, October 13, 1307, the date that many Knights Templar were simultaneously arrested in France.

A proverb says neither get married, nor start a journey, or separate yourself from your family on this day. What will you do today?

Have your say
Do you believe Friday the 13th is an unlucky day? If you do, then what superstitious beliefs do you have for this particular day? If you don't, then how do you normally spend this day?