{"id":5203,"date":"2026-02-13T10:54:45","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T10:54:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/velkeholky.org\/?p=5203"},"modified":"2026-02-13T10:54:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T10:54:46","slug":"patek-trinacteho-proc-se-ho-porad-bojime-a-mame-proc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/velkeholky.org\/en\/patek-trinacteho-proc-se-ho-porad-bojime-a-mame-proc\/","title":{"rendered":"Friday the 13th: why are we still afraid of it (and should we?)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Friday the 13th under the microscope. Superstition, history and psychology without the scares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why does Friday the 13th still haunt us?<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Be honest with yourself \u2013 when you look at your calendar in the morning and see Friday the 13th, something inside you stirs slightly. Maybe just a little smile. Maybe a little prick of uncertainty. And you're not alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This day is a bit of a "perfect storm" of two old fears - Friday and the number thirteen. And together it sounds like a horror script. There's even a technical name for it: paraskevidekatriphobia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, we have a diagnosis for that too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the question is different:<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Is there really a reason to be afraid? Or is it just our minds playing tricks?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday: a day that carried a heavy burden long before the thirteenth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today is Friday, a symbol of relief. Weekend. Coffee. Glass of wine. Silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But historically he had a completely different reputation!<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In biblical tradition, Good Friday is the day of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. And it doesn't end there. According to tradition, it was on Friday that Eve offered Adam an apple from the tree of knowledge. And even the biblical flood was supposed to begin on a Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words \u2013 Friday was associated with a fall, punishment, a fundamental turning point.<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n

And the Middle Ages didn't help much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many countries, Friday was a common day for public executions. It was even called "Hangman's Day." The day of the executioner. The day when irreversible and definitive things happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even years or months that started on a Friday were considered unlucky. Today we can't imagine judging an entire year by the day of the week. Back then, it was common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And sailors? For centuries, they refused to set sail on Fridays. They believed that a ship setting sail on a Friday was doomed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the stock market?<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Yes. And this is interesting. And a little ironic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1\ufe0f\u20e3 \u201eFriday Effect\u201c \u2013 Friday as a weaker day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is a so-called. Friday effect<\/strong> (sometimes part of the broader \u201eday-of-the-week effect\u201c). Some older studies have shown that stock markets tend to perform slightly worse on Fridays than on other days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simply psychology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investors close positions before the weekend, take profits, not wanting to hold the risk for more than two days when anything could happen \u2013 political crisis, war, bankruptcy, whatever. So they prefer to \u201eclear the table.\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not magic. Nerves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2\ufe0f\u20e3 \u201eBlack Friday\u201c \u2013 but different than the shopping one<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the history of the stock market, we have several Fridays that were truly black.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n