Have you ever heard of triskaidekaphobia? The fear of the number 13 is a significant reason for hotels not having a 13th floor.
Next time, when you are in a hotel, try to find the 13th floor, and you will be surprised to know if there exists no such floor in the building. It sounds surprising not to have a floor number 13 only because a group of people is afraid of the number 13 due to their superstitiousness.
But you would be even more surprised to find out that most people believe that floor 13 should not be in a hotel.
The Reasons behind the Fear of the Number 13
Many hotels do not have a 13th floor, and many airline companies and businesses avoid using this floor. There are many stories attached to it. The majority indicate people’s superstitious beliefs about the evil number 13.
We bet that most of you have not even realized that many hotels do not have a 13th floor. The majority indicate people’s superstitious beliefs about the evil number 13. We don’t know for how long such stories revolve around them, but their existence is a bitter truth.
It was a long ago when American and European communities used to believe blindly in their fears and how these fears could bring bad luck to them. Following the belief of the number 13 that was strongly attached to bringing misfortune, many hotel elevators skipped the 13th floor or named the floor with some other name, such as 12B or 14A, or M. This was a way for the people to avoid living on a floor that fears them or is attached to some bad omen.
In today’s era, it might sound crazy or unreal to have something as a number to bring bad vibes. Still, many studies revolve around how the number 13 brings bad health, stress, or anxiety. The belief is based on various theories.
1. The most popular one is back to the Medieval era when people used to be afraid of witches, evils, ghosts, and dark forces. The number 13 was associated with the darkness that originated from evil forces.
2. Another common theory relates to the Last Supper, in which 13 people were present, and the betrayer of Jesus, Judas Iscariot, was the 13th person at the table. That’s not it.
3. Another theory resonates with the bad luck of the number 13 to the mischievous God of Norse Mythology, Loki, the 13th guest at a party, and created chaos among the other 12 gods.
These beliefs together made various skyscrapers omitted the 13th floor in 1885, and they started building only 12 stories following the fears of ominous shadows and evil energies that resonated with the number 13.
Although later, the hotels and skyscrapers started introducing more stories, floor 13 was replaced with another name. In many of the hotels in Chicago, it is a common practice not to have a 13th floor, which is not bothering many. By removing the 13th floor, the hotel owners ensure that the visitors are not scared by their superstitious beliefs.
4. The notion that the number 13 brings bad luck has become so deeply rooted in the collective consciousness that it has been labeled as triskaidekaphobia. This phobia has not been supported by scientific evidence yet.
People who have triskaidekaphobia experience a more intense fear of the number 13 than those who consider it a mere superstition.
On Friday the 13th, some people refrain from activities such as air travel or business dealings, resulting in a loss of approximately $800 to $900 million in sales. Some individuals go to great lengths to avoid the number 13 altogether, such as by avoiding TV channel 13 or refusing to stay in hotel rooms with the number 13.
Does the Fear of the Number 13 Only Exist in the USA?
Although there are a large number of people who believe the misfortune that is attached to the suspicious number, the same situation prevails in Italy, Brazil, and China as well, where many buildings skip the unlucky floor.
According to various studies, the superstitiousness attached to the number 13 still exists and is alive in different parts of the world.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is triskaidekaphobia?
Triskaidekaphobia is an irrational fear of the number 13 that people with firm superstitious beliefs develop without any scientifically proven reason.
Did the world trade center have a 13th floor?
Yes, the World trade center had a 13th floor.
Where did the 13th floor superstition start?
The superstitiousness around the 13th floor started in 1900 when huge buildings such as skyscrapers were introduced. The architects and engineers skipped the 13th floor as the people were very much afraid of the number 13th. The architects and owners believed that by creating a 13th floor, the value of the property would be crashed.
Do any hotels have a 13th floor?
Although there are various hotels with a sign of a 13th storey, there are still many hotels and skyscrapers in which the 13th floor is named as something else.
Why is the 13th floor haunted?
The scariness around the 13th floor is due to the common superstitious beliefs of various people that indicate the evil forces are related to this scary number.
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Emily Smith is a talented content writer, wielding words to create captivating stories and informative articles across a wide range of topics. With a passion for effective communication and a love for research, Emily consistently produces engaging and valuable content. She’s dedicated to conveying ideas clearly and compellingly, making her a sought-after voice in the digital sphere. When not writing, Emily enjoys immersing herself in art, nature, and culinary adventures for fresh bursts of creativity.
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