triskaidekaphobia

Irrational fear (phobia) of the number thirteen (from the Greek triskaideka - thirteen - and phobos, meaning fear), most often for reasons of cross-cultural superstition ranging from the number of attendees at the Last Supper to Apollo 13th's (launched at 13:13 Central Time) oxygen tank explosion on the 13th of April to the number (13) of months (each of 28 days) in the calendar of the (pagan) lunar year.

Manifests itself contemporarily in dread of sporadic (yet frequent) Friday the 13ths, cessation of learning times tables at "12 x 12", and the omission of the 13th floor from most skyscrapers and office blocks, whose elevators will quite glibly skip from 12 to 14 without ever suggesting that anything else might conceivably be found between them, many hotel room and airplane layouts similarly lacking a room or seat #13. Many street addresses that would otherwise end in 13 instead have amended signs indicating that they are instead 12 and a half, Italy takes precautions against the number 13 appearing in state lottery draws, and what we know as a baker's dozen is in Scotland apparently frequently known as "the Devil's dozen."

Triskaidekaphobia is often erroneously spelt triskadekaphobia, especially when sampled into pop culture, perhaps on account of the i-less pronunciation of the word.

Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13, or anything occurring in groups of 13. It is believed that this phobia is of Sicilian origin. Because of this phobia, many people believe Friday the 13th to be a day of bad luck. There is also a fair amount of historical/mythological "proof" backing up some of the superstition surrounding this number, and even the day Friday the 13th.

One of the first recorded religious occurrences of this number/day can be seen in the Muslim religion. Many Muslims believe that Allah created Adam on a Friday. Then, it was on a Friday that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Finally, it is believed that Adam and Eve died on a Friday.

Those of the Christian faith believe Friday to be an unlucky day as well, for it is believed that Jesus was crucified on a Friday by the Romans. Also, at the Last Supper, there were 13 people seated at Jesus' table.

In Scandinavian mythology, the number 13 is believed to be unlucky because there were originally 12 gods. However, a thirteenth god was introduced, Loki, who proved to be evil.

A more historical occurrence of this number happened on October 13, 1307, a Friday. It was on this day that a death warrant was issued by Pope Clement V and King Edward of France on the Knights Templar. The Knights were arrested and executed as heretics.

Sources:
http://www.sicilianculture.com/folklore/triscadecaphobia.htm

Come to me by dark, my lovely. Don't fear
the wind that howls or shadows of dark things
grown thin and ominous, cast by the moon.
You won't need breadcrumbs to find your way back,
You've always known the way. You are not lost.
And you won't lose much, only innocence.

It's no heavy price to pay. Innocence
is over-rated. We learn how to fear
and life's more precious when it can be lost.
We shiver at stories of wicked things
and hold each other tight. Remember back
when we'd shriek as a shadow crossed the moon?

But the reflected light of the full moon
also lures us far from innocence
reveals things best left hidden. Going back
is not a choice. Obsession is, I fear,
often disguised as love and dreadful things
become unearthed. All good intentions lost.

But I will follow you if you get lost;
we'll dance a dread duet beneath the moon.
We'll whisper to each other of the things
best left unsaid. Darling, love's innocence
dies as the truth is told. But never fear,
when you run, a candle will guide you back,

a single candle will light your way back.
Burning brightly, illuminating lost
paths and trailways. You'll run away, I fear.
I'll follow. Hunting you beneath the moon
searching by a candle's light. Innocence
is not enough. It will not stop the dark things.

The gibber and howl and thirst-for-blood things
lie in wait for you. They are patient. Back
then, when you were small (such innocence!)
they said "monsters aren't real". But their game's lost,
Monsters cavort by the light of the moon
and cracked headlights feasting on blood and fear.

And if i tell you there's no need to fear
these malformed, grim and ghastly night-time things
whose solemn dances celebrate the moon,
If I tell you it's safe to turn your back
to them and dance your way, savage and lost
to song you'll wonder why, in innocence.

Is it worth the price of your innocence
to learn the mysteries of those you fear?
When you're older and think of what you've lost,
will you regret the whispered, secret things
I'll share? Ride with me beneath mistress moon
and I'll tell my tales. There's no turning back.

You're coming with me? Good. No looking back
the earth is far below and innocence
is far behind. Look, how lovely the moon
shines down upon us. Don't cry and don't fear,
our destination's close and certain things
will be clearer when other things are lost.

Just in that clearing there. No, I'm not lost.
That ancient, oaken spindle in the back
Once belonged to a fairy queen. Her things
clutter the forest. "There's no innocence
that can't be overcome by wiles. Fear
the weak." That's all I can make out by moon-

light. The fairy once claimed to rule the moon.
This inscription reminds us that she lost.
And the girl who would not give into fear
bested the fairy queen, took her throne back.
you, my love, armored in pure innocence
Remind me of that girl. Remind me of true things.

By now, you must have guessed some of things
I have to tell you underneath the moon.
By now, you must have shed some innocence.
the last bit's easy, my dear, don't get lost:
I'll still be here although there's no way back,
and you are all the things you've come to fear.

When you are all the dark things that you fear,
the shadow of the moon is at your back.
You know well the cost of innocence lost.

fearquest.