Friday The 13th And The Boogeyman, Why The Legacy Of Fear Still Exists Today

Friday the 13th, unlucky for some. But how did it all start?

According to folklore historian Donald Dossey, the unlucky nature of the number “13” originated with a Norse myth about 12 gods having a dinner party in Valhalla. The trickster god Loki, who was not invited, arrived as the 13th guest, and arranged for Höðr to shoot Balder with a mistletoe-tipped arrow.

And the Bogeyman?

“a person or thing that is widely regarded as an object of fear”.

So, why is it that right here in the 21st century, we still acknowledge and often fear things of legend?

It’s quite simple. We are taught from an early age to be fearful. The bogeyman, or boogeyman as it is often referred to targets children. Although our parents do their best to stop us worrying about mythical creatures frequenting our bedrooms as kids, they also instill in us “never talk to strangers”.

As children we often watch the news, this in itself is a daily report of stabbings, murder and other nasty things. We may even be allowed to stay up late as kids and watch people being murdered on TV. Is it any wonder we grow up suspicious of others and fearful of the world?.

Friday The 13th – The Legacy Of Fear

Although many good things happen on Friday the 13th, people are more interested in the bad things that happen. This is portrayed in the 1980’s movie franchise of “Friday The 13th” based lightly around a true story of three murders commited at a camp in Finland. In the movies, Camp Crystal Lake is based in the USA and mass murderer Jason Voorhees ends up slaughtering many teenagers in each film.

Slasher films, as they are known are very much responsible for installing even more fear in people, yet we all go ot see them. Why do you think this is?

Remember, bad news always sells more than good news.

It has been said in the past that although we are quite willing to watch others suffer on screen it possibly makes us feel glad and relieved that it’s not happening to us. This theory has never been proven but it is possible. Maybe watching others get in trouble on TV or Film makes us feel grateful that it’s not us doing the suffering.

What effect does fear actually have on us as human beings…

Can Fear Actually Attract Bad Things To You?

I believe it can. If you keep a nation fearful, you can control its people much easier. Take the recent pandemic (in December of 2021 it is still with us).

If you are afraid, if you are fearful, your natural defences against disease are lowered. We are all aware that stress can damage our body and it’s defences, fear can also do the same.

I beleive that if we see the world as a fearful place, it becomes so. What you fear most, often appears. The boogeyman may not appear in reality, but the element of fear is still there.. (do you remember looking in the wardrobe and under the bed before turning the light off at night?).

So, Full moon’s, Friday the 13th, the Boogyman and other such myths of the night all have an effet on people. Although you may not beleive in them, they all have an effect on people. Did you know more crimes are reported on days when we have a full moon?

The main thing is to remember, although the media(the news) portrays the world as a dark and dangerous place, they still send their reporters there to report the news.

Fear sells. Not just in movies or the media, but by Governments too. Keep people fearful and you keep people compliant. Fear is a weapon.

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you did, please leave a comment below and share the post.

Thanks in advance.

Keith

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