Sunday, May 15, 2011
Vocabulary – Are You Triskaidekaphobic?
Are you afraid of the number 13? Do you think it’s an unlucky number? If so, you are triskaidekaphobic!
A phobia is an extreme fear of something (or someone!). For example, claustrophobia is a fear of being in small, closed spaces. Acrophobia is a fear of heights. You can see a list of more phobias here.
In English-speaking countries, 13 is an unlucky number. There are no 13th floors in most buildings. Friday the 13th is believed to be a VERY unlucky day! There is even a series of horror movies called Friday the 13th.
No one is quite sure why the number 13 or Friday the 13th is unlucky. It’s a common superstition. Some people believe that 13 is unlucky number because there were 13 people at the Last Supper – the last supper Jesus had with his 12 disciples before he died.
I have heard that in some countries, Friday the 13th is a lucky day! What about your country? Is Friday the 13th a luck or unlucky day?
3 comments:
S.MSKamel said…
Well, in my country Egypt, the number 13 is considered as unlucky in general regardless it’s Friday the 13th or not.
lauranapoli said…
In Brazil is the same ! Lots of people thinks of 13 as an unlucky number. But, some of them also have it as your lucky number. For me is just a number… like the other ones…
Melanie said…
Do you have a ‘lucky’ number? = )
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