Is the fear of number 13 real or just a myth? Here's what we know
Important plans are sometimes avoided on the 13th of the month.
This quiet discomfort isn't just a coincidence. It's tied to triskaidekaphobia– the long-standing superstition around the number 13. For some, it's just a harmless quirk. For others, it triggers real unease. Despite scientific progress, the fear still lingers in unexpected places. But where did it begin– and why does it still hold power in the modern world?
Is it a real phobia or just an old habit?
Fear of the number 13– also known as triskaidekaphobia– doesn't always count as a serious psychological phobia, according to a report by Medical News Today.
Most people who avoid the number aren't panicking or deeply distressed. It's more of a mild discomfort, like feeling weird about staying in room 13 or sitting in row 13 on a flight.
That's why mental health professionals usually don't see it as a medical condition, as per online sources. It's generally considered a cultural superstition, not a disorder– unless it starts to seriously affect someone's daily life or cause unusual levels of anxiety.
Ancient roots, global presence
The fear of the number 13 isn't something new, and it's not limited to one culture either. Over time, different traditions and stories have added to its reputation.
According to a report by Very Well Mind, one of the most well-known examples comes from Christianity– the Last Supper, where Jesus had dinner with his 12 apostles. Some reports suggest that the betrayer Judas was the 13th to join the table. In Norse mythology, there's a similar story where Loki, the trickster god, showed up uninvited as the 13th guest at a feast and caused trouble.
Still visible in everyday life
Even in today's tech-driven, logical world, the fear of the number 13 still quietly lingers. In many modern buildings, you won't find a 13th floor. Some airplanes skip row 13 entirely, and even cities avoid using the number when naming streets or plots.
As per online reports, pop culture has played a role in keeping the superstition alive– especially with the popularity of the Friday the 13th horror films. In many Western countries, Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day.
While no one knows exactly why, one theory traces it back to the year 1307, when a group called the Knights Templar was arrested on a Friday the 13th.
Not just 13– other numbers carry meaning too
According to Very Well Mind, this uneasiness with certain numbers isn't just about 13 or limited to Western cultures. In China, for example, the number 4 is often avoided, especially in hospitals or real estate, because it sounds similar to the word for 'death.' The same goes for Japan and South Korea, where some numbers are skipped in elevators or hospital rooms for similar reasons.
These examples show how language and culture can shape what people believe, even if there's no real logic or scientific reason behind it.
When should it be taken seriously?
In most cases, the fear of the number 13 isn't something that needs treatment. But if someone starts going out of their way to avoid it– like changing travel plans, skipping buildings, or feeling anxious just seeing the number– it could point to a deeper fear or obsessive pattern.
When that happens, doctors often recommend cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), according to Very Well Mind.
It helps people face their fears slowly and with support. In more serious cases, medication might be used along with therapy, though that's pretty rare for this kind of fear.
A fear that's more cultural than clinical
In the end, triskaidekaphobia isn't really about the number 13– it's more about how culture, stories, and old beliefs still shape the way we think and act. For some people, it's just an interesting quirk. For others, it brings a bit of unease. Either way, it shows that even in today's logical world, certain superstitions still stick around– quietly affecting our choices without us even realising it.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Indian Express
The Japanese concept of Gambarimasu teaches how to do your best and let go of the rest
In Japanese culture, the phrase 'Gambarimasu' (頑張ります) is a powerful expression that means 'I will do my best.' Unlike Western ideas of success, which often focus on results, the concept of Gambarimasu emphasises effort over outcome. Whether in work, school, sports, or daily life, this philosophy teaches that true success lies in persistence and dedication rather than external validation. At its core, Gambarimasu is about giving your full effort regardless of the circumstances. The word comes from 'ganbaru' (頑張る), which means persevering, enduring, and staying firm in one's efforts. This mindset fosters resilience, self-discipline, and a deep sense of responsibility. Japanese employees apply this principle by committing to their tasks with complete dedication, regardless of external pressures. Students adopt this mindset to study hard and improve, rather than simply aiming for high grades. Athletes focus on improving their skills and endurance rather than just winning competitions. The philosophy of Gambarimasu teaches that the journey matters more than the destination. Adopting this mindset can help cultivate resilience, reduce stress, and find deeper satisfaction in your efforts. So next time you face a challenge, remember to say, 'Gambarimasu!' and do your best without worrying about what comes next.
The Print
2 days ago
- The Print
Why do women reject men so brutally? It's kinder than breadcrumbing
Nobody approaches anyone at clubs or parties. Gen Z prefers being ghosted on dating apps to the sting of a real-life 'no'. Some of us share the crests and troughs of our lives with strangers on not less than two to three apps, only to be unmatched mid-trauma dump—because they found someone hotter in the queue. Then there are the masochists who get into situationships. They get rejected by the same person every day. Now, that is commitment. Just ask anyone who's hit their daily 'like' limit on Hinge, only to be met with silence—five swipes, zero matches, and a bruised ego. For instant healing, you aggressively swipe left on everyone who liked you. But don't quote me on that, I will deny everything. Romantic rejection is a rite of passage, and everyone's either a victim or a villain. Online dating was designed to dodge it at all costs. But—surprise, surprise—it only gave rejection a software update. The new-age dating scene thrives on polite confusion. The painful clarity of 'I don't like you' is replaced with the more gutting 'I don't like you… enough'. There's always one person in a casual relationship burning the midnight oil for a boyfriend or girlfriend title, only to be slapped with a friend-with-benefits role, or a weekend hookup appointment. It's rejection in layers, or you can call it death by a thousand paper cuts. Grieving online Cultural critics blame the dating apps for the growing fear of rejection among Gen Z and for relationships that feel like an elaborate humiliation ritual. Content creators and dating experts on Instagram post carousels on how to rise above rejection. It's not you, it's them—that's the basic TED talk. Daters are advised to take it as a blessing, a redirection to better things. Because there are now a million ways someone can reject you, the online good Samaritans are also helping people read hidden signs in vague text messages and silent body language. Psychologists, on the other hand, are diagnosing people with rejection sensitivity dysphoria—a condition where rejections feel catastrophic. In simple therapy speak, the only treatment is 'healing your inner child'. The Jesus fanbase is spreading its own propaganda: 'So what he doesn't want you? God loves you.' To fact-check this claim, you must reach out to the press office in heaven. On the unhinged side—aka the interesting one—the discourse takes a juicier turn. The advice you get there sounds petty, but it works like a charm. Reject them before they reject you. Switch off the blue tick on WhatsApp, so you never know at what point you were ghosted. Always go for people uglier than you, so there's less risk of disappointment. 'People who are both job hunting and swiping on dating apps are burning the stick of dynamite at both ends,' read one tweet. Someone replied: 'I've been thinking about and then deciding not to even try to redownload a dating app every few days while I've been job hunting because I can only handle so much rejection at once.' Trust us to not suffer quietly through the pangs of unrequited love. We grieve online—via cryptic captions, sad girl playlists, and 20-minute voicenotes to our besties. Some of us even descend into the digital underworld of subtweets and AITA threads to roast our former flings. 'I gave the ugly guy a chance and he had the gall to block me,' one post read. It's still healthier than how some people handle rejection. Also read: Romance has the urgency of breaking news now. Dating apps are editorial fodder Danger: Rejections ahead While nobody takes rejection well, newspaper headlines reveal that it turns men into murderers, stalkers, and rapists. A 27-year-old chartered accountant said she blames her 'strict landlord' every time she wants to tell a man she can't bring him home after a lousy first date. This is not to rob women of their own predatory, pushy streak. Convinced of their fairy-like qualities, some of them can't digest that a man can reject them. Raanjhanaa's Kundan looks like a noob chaser compared to them. A Delhi-based man snubbed his one-night stand at least 20 times, and yet she wouldn't give up hounding him online and offline. She'd crash every party thrown by their mutual friends, just to grill him about why he won't return her calls. Worried about being bad-mouthed, the man caved and went on one more date with her. She didn't have fun that day, so she told him to never text her again. Love may be dead, but audacity lives on. Men also frequently call out women for being brutal in the way they reject them. The memes start with 'Worst she can say is no' and end with a punchline that would scar a person for life. In a viral text exchange doing rounds on social media, a guy asks a girl to clarify if he's her lover, sidepiece, friend, etc. She replies, 'Etc.' Who would survive this? In our defence, women say it's better to destroy someone in one blow than keep them hanging for months. 'I refuse to act like men who give breadcrumbs of affection for months till the other person takes the hint,' said a serial rejecter working in finance. The delivery is savage, but the intention is often mercy. Rejection has wrecked some people to the point that they've taken the involuntary celibacy route. Thanks to desi matrimony, not everyone will die single. Our parents are more than happy to take over the burden—and get rejected on our behalf. You can't pay me enough to take that route. I've spent enough on therapy to know I'm not everyone's cup of tea—and that's fine. This article is part of a series of columns on modern dating in India—the good, the bad and the cuddly. Views are personal. The author tweets @ratanpriya4. (Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Is the fear of number 13 real or just a myth? Here's what we know
AI is writing code, spacecraft are exploring beyond the moon, and technology is pushing every boundary. Yet, many buildings skip the 13th floor. Airlines quietly leave out row 13. Important plans are sometimes avoided on the 13th of the month. This quiet discomfort isn't just a coincidence. It's tied to triskaidekaphobia– the long-standing superstition around the number 13. For some, it's just a harmless quirk. For others, it triggers real unease. Despite scientific progress, the fear still lingers in unexpected places. But where did it begin– and why does it still hold power in the modern world? Is it a real phobia or just an old habit? Fear of the number 13– also known as triskaidekaphobia– doesn't always count as a serious psychological phobia, according to a report by Medical News Today. Most people who avoid the number aren't panicking or deeply distressed. It's more of a mild discomfort, like feeling weird about staying in room 13 or sitting in row 13 on a flight. That's why mental health professionals usually don't see it as a medical condition, as per online sources. It's generally considered a cultural superstition, not a disorder– unless it starts to seriously affect someone's daily life or cause unusual levels of anxiety. Ancient roots, global presence The fear of the number 13 isn't something new, and it's not limited to one culture either. Over time, different traditions and stories have added to its reputation. According to a report by Very Well Mind, one of the most well-known examples comes from Christianity– the Last Supper, where Jesus had dinner with his 12 apostles. Some reports suggest that the betrayer Judas was the 13th to join the table. In Norse mythology, there's a similar story where Loki, the trickster god, showed up uninvited as the 13th guest at a feast and caused trouble. Still visible in everyday life Even in today's tech-driven, logical world, the fear of the number 13 still quietly lingers. In many modern buildings, you won't find a 13th floor. Some airplanes skip row 13 entirely, and even cities avoid using the number when naming streets or plots. As per online reports, pop culture has played a role in keeping the superstition alive– especially with the popularity of the Friday the 13th horror films. In many Western countries, Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day. While no one knows exactly why, one theory traces it back to the year 1307, when a group called the Knights Templar was arrested on a Friday the 13th. Not just 13– other numbers carry meaning too According to Very Well Mind, this uneasiness with certain numbers isn't just about 13 or limited to Western cultures. In China, for example, the number 4 is often avoided, especially in hospitals or real estate, because it sounds similar to the word for 'death.' The same goes for Japan and South Korea, where some numbers are skipped in elevators or hospital rooms for similar reasons. These examples show how language and culture can shape what people believe, even if there's no real logic or scientific reason behind it. When should it be taken seriously? In most cases, the fear of the number 13 isn't something that needs treatment. But if someone starts going out of their way to avoid it– like changing travel plans, skipping buildings, or feeling anxious just seeing the number– it could point to a deeper fear or obsessive pattern. When that happens, doctors often recommend cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), according to Very Well Mind. It helps people face their fears slowly and with support. In more serious cases, medication might be used along with therapy, though that's pretty rare for this kind of fear. A fear that's more cultural than clinical In the end, triskaidekaphobia isn't really about the number 13– it's more about how culture, stories, and old beliefs still shape the way we think and act. For some people, it's just an interesting quirk. For others, it brings a bit of unease. Either way, it shows that even in today's logical world, certain superstitions still stick around– quietly affecting our choices without us even realising it.
