• The taboo of 13!
• Number 13 is thought to be inauspicious and evil in much of the western world. Fear of the number 13 is called ‘Triskaidekaphobia’. Around 10% of the western population is afraid of the number. As it is called unholy, devil’s a number, etc. When I saw room number 13 missing from a heritage hotel building in south Asia, I realized how much this taboo has spread. Traveling from America-Europe to Asia.
  
  An early myth surrounding the fear of this number is its omissions from the world’s first legal document “code of Hammurabi”. Though, it was nothing more than a clerical error. As the earliest translator missed to add a line in the text.
  
  Two mythological events behind the fear of 13 (especially 13 people at an event) are the appearance of a 13th guest at two events. According to Bible the person who betrayed Jesus Judas Iscariot was the thirteenth guest. While in Norse lore evil and turmoil were first introduced into the world by Loki God of treachery and mischief. He was the thirteenth guest at the dinner party I’m Valhalla upsetting the balance of the already present twelve gods.
  
  A very controversial reason behind the unlucky consideration is patriarchy. Interestingly, throughout history, this notorious number was connected to female energy. As there are 13 menses annually, along with 13 lunar cycles. (Moon is associated with women across many cultures). It follows that many believe that the number’s negative association reflects female oppression.
  
  Ancient cultures celebrated the number 13 in association with the goddess archetype – the divine feminine. It was only when society became patriarchal that women were made to feel shame when they were having their periods and to ignore their amazing potential to create and hold space for new life.
  
  According to the numerological system, twelve is considered a complete number. The day consists of two sets of 12 hours. There are 12 months, 12 Zodiac signs, 12 apostles, etc. And anything after the completion is inauspicious. Hence, 13 became the point of hate and fear.
  
  The horror genre also played a huge role in spreading fear of the number. Movies like 13b, 13 ghosts, 13 tzameti and whole series of Friday the 13th played and increased the taboo relating to the number.
  
  Though anything about number 13 will be incomplete without mentioning Friday the thirteenth. Though Friday’s negative associations are weaker, somitsve suggested it’s roots in Christian tradition. As Jesus was crucified on a Friday. Even gave Adam the said apple on Friday. As well as Cain killed his brother, Abel on the same day. Both the unlucky date and day came together to become the most fearful, obnoxious day of the year.
  
  There are many events which show how Friday the 13th is unholy and cursed. I am adding some of rhe events which unfolded on Friday the 13th.
  
  January 13, 1989;A virus affected hundreds of IBM computers across Great Britain on this day, deleting program files at a time when such computer viruses were relatively a new threat. The virus came to be known as “Friday the 13th”.
  
  November 13, 1970; A huge South Asian storm killed an estimated 300,000 people in Chittagong, Bangladesh. As many as 1 million died in the Ganges delta due to the floods.
  
  January 13, 2012: Cruise ship Costa Concordia capsized off the coast of Tuscany, killing 32.Also December 2019, when Covid19 surged and spread in China the month had a Friday the 13th.
  
  But, why selectively remember the bad things. Many great people were born and many achievements were achieved on this very same cursed year. Let’s see few of them.
  
  Alfred Hitchcock, Christopher Plummer, Kat Dennings, Kate Walsh, Natalie Portman, George Clooney, Jason Momoa and many others were born on Friday the thirteenth.
  
  One super cool scientific discovery was made public on Friday, November 13, 2009. On this date, NASA scientists shared that water was discovered on the moon, according to CNN. “
  
  When President Lyndon B. Johnson signed an order stating that the government couldn’t discriminate based on gender when it came to employment, it was Friday, October 13, 1967.
  
  Evelyn Pinckert Kilgore became the first licensed female flight instructor. On Friday October 13th in 1939.
  
  Even if you are not obsessed with video games you probably would have heard about mario. The first iteration of the game starring brothers Mario and Luigi was released on September 13, 1985 in Japan.

And today is also Friday 13th, January. Let’s see how 2023 rolls!