Bradford people have mixed views (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford people have mixed views

10:16am Friday 13th November 2009 in

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It’s Friday the 13th.

And whether it’s walking around ladders, running away from black cats, or putting on your lucky pants – most of us could be branded as superstitious.

In fact, for some people it is such an ordeal, they avoid activities like driving or even leaving the house every Friday the 13th.

If that sounds familiar then you may be one of the unlucky ones suffering with paraskevidekatriaphobia – a phobia which is defined as an irrational fear of Friday the 13th.

Many would think that Monday would be feared most – that dreaded day back to work – but it’s Fridays which are known as the ‘devil’s day’.

The number 13 is believed in many countries to be the unluckiest of all numbers – unless of course you were born on that day – if so, then you are said to be one of the fortunate ones.

The irrational fear of things associated with the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia – however it is not fully understood why so many people think Friday is unlucky.

One suggestion about why Friday the 13th is linked to a tradition of bad luck is the one that says that Judas Iscariot was the 13th to sit alongside Jesus and 11 other disciples at the Last Supper and that Jesus’s crucifixion took place on a Friday.

It might seem all doom and gloom but the dreaded day can be welcomed by others.

Some believe that they are blessed with luck and fortune and favour on Friday 13th over any other and for some, today is just another day before the weekend begins.

WHAT YOU THINK

“No, not really – I don’t believe in that really. My wife believes in afterlife and watches mediums though.” Barry Waterhouse, 44, digital printer.

“No not really, my dad is though – he gets superstitious about walking around and falling over.” Andrew Stack, 43, unemployed.

“Yes, of black cats. Ladders are things to avoid. I will avoid them on Friday the 13th.” Jess Fleming, 21, mortgage advisor.

“Of a lot of things? No. But I won’t walk under street signs.” Laura Brickley, 24, a sales advisor.

“No, things happen as they happen, we don’t have any control over it.” Charles North, 63, unemployed.

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