Unofficial holiday spurs abnormal behavior for some
Some people won’t go to work today, some will skip classes and others won’t even leave the house.
And they aren’t hungover either.
Today is Friday the 13th — a day well-known for its bad luck, causing many people to become anxiety-ridden.
Some students are taking the day with open arms, however.
“I love (Friday the 13th),” said Trevor Walker, St. Clair sophomore. “Me and my friends are going to (listen to) a band at the (former) insane asylum. I thought, ‘Why not?’ I love checking out ghost stories and all that.”
About 21 million Americans suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia, or fear of Friday the 13th, said Donald Dossey, psychotherapist and founder of the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, N.C.
Walker said he has never experienced any strange occurrences on the unofficial holiday, but has heard of a legend in his hometown.
If a person parks his or her car on a bridge on Friday the 13th and sets his or her keys on top and honks the horn, a crying baby can be heard, he said.
However, when Walker tested out the legend, he said he didn’t hear any babies crying.
Indiana senior Brooke Hewitt is one student who doesn’t believe in superstitions.
“I’m not really into that kind of stuff,” she said. “I know it’s always like, ‘Oh, it’s Friday the 13th,’ but I don’t really think about it.”
Neither does Elise Williams.
The Ann Arbor freshman was born on Friday, May 13, 1988, so she doesn’t believe it’s bad luck at all.
One origin for Friday the 13th dates back to Good Friday, when Jesus Christ is believed to have died, said Kenneth Jurkiewicz, associate broadcast and cinematic arts professor. The day before Christ was crucified, there were 13 people at The Last Supper.
Jurkiewicz said superstitions have been around for a long time, but he doesn’t believe in them.
“I think that what happens to you individually is because of your bad luck or because you didn’t do things right — not because of a date on a calendar,” he said. “I’m obsessive-compulsive, but not that obsessive-compulsive.”
Jurkiewicz said people who feel out of control might try to do anything — like not break mirrors or throw salt over their left shoulder — to make them think they’re in control.
“Since people feel that their lives are out of control, maybe by performing these rituals, it’ll take away bad luck,” Jurkiewicz said. “They’re kind of fun and fun to talk about, but they’re just that.”
