Fear: Founded or Frivolous?

Yesterday was Friday the 13th, a day that is believed to be bad luck and affects between 17 and 21 million people in the US. People refuse to fly, work, or even leave the house on the day that has become known as paraskevidekatriaphobia (fear of Friday the 13th). It all started with a myth (don't they all?) in which 12 Gods were having a dinner party at Valhalla (the mythical Norse heaven; apparantly even the Gods likes to socialize). The mischievous Loki then crashed the party (those damn uninvited guests) and had Hodi, the blind God of darkness, shoot Balder. Balder was beautiful and known as the God of joy and gladness (wait, I thought that was my spouse). Anyway, Balder died as a result of a mistletoe-tipped arrow and the whole Earth became dark, everyone mourned and wailed. From that moment on 13 was considered to be foreboding. A more well-known story is Jesus and the apostles at the Last Supper. Judas was supposedly the 13th guest and he ended up betraying Jesus. As for Friday, it's believed that Jesus was crucified on a Friday; it's also believed that Friday is the day Eve tempted Adam with the apple. In fact, according to Donald Dossey, a folklore historian, in his book Holiday Folklore, Phobias and Fun, more than 80 percent of high rises do not have a 13th floor, many airports don't have a gate numbered 13 and many times hotels and hospitals do not have a room numbered 13. As for me, I don't believe in all of that silly superstition but if someone else does then I'll respect that. I will be hoping for that black cat to cross my path though, as my mom always believed that was GOOD luck.