What
is it about Friday the 13th that makes people nervous? There are those who feel
this is a day of bad luck. Not so for me, 13 is my lucky number. Over the
years, I've won prizes and money with this number. Heck, I own a black cat!
The
fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskavedekatriaphobia,
a word derived from the concatenation of the Greek words Paraskeví (Παρασκευή) (meaning Friday), and dekatreís (δεκατρείς) (meaning thirteen), attached to phobia
(φοβία) (meaning fear). The term is a specialized form of triskaidekaphobia, a simple phobia (fear) of the number thirteen
appearing in any case.
In numerology, the number twelve is considered the number of completeness, as reflected in the twelve months of the year, twelve recognized signs of the zodiac, the twelve tribes of Israel, the twelve Apostles of Jesus, etc., whereas the number thirteen was considered irregular, transgressing this completeness. There is also a superstition, thought by some to derive from the Last Supper, that having thirteen people seated at a table would result in the death of one of the diners. (Which in a way it did, with one of the Apostles betraying Jesus to the Romans.) Next time, you’re invited to dinner and look to be the thirteen guest, maybe it would be more prudent to decline.
Friday, as the day on which Jesus Christ was crucified, has been viewed both positively and negatively among Christians. The actual day of Crucifixion was the 14th day of Nisan in the Hebrew Lunar calendar which does not correspond to "Friday" in the solar calendar of Rome. The 15th day of Nissan (beginning at Sundown) is celebration of Passover.
In
the 20th century, only did the superstition receive greater audience, as
Friday the 13th doesn't even merit a mention in E. Cobham Brewer's voluminous 1898 edition of the Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, though one does find entries for "Friday, an Unlucky Day" and "Thirteen Unlucky." When the date of ill fate finally does make an appearance in later editions of the text, it is without extravagant claims as to the superstition's historicity or longevity. Though the superstition developed relatively recently, much older origins are often claimed for it, most notably in the novel, The Da Vinci Code (and later the film), which traced the belief to the arrest of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307.
Friday the 13th doesn't even merit a mention in E. Cobham Brewer's voluminous 1898 edition of the Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, though one does find entries for "Friday, an Unlucky Day" and "Thirteen Unlucky." When the date of ill fate finally does make an appearance in later editions of the text, it is without extravagant claims as to the superstition's historicity or longevity. Though the superstition developed relatively recently, much older origins are often claimed for it, most notably in the novel, The Da Vinci Code (and later the film), which traced the belief to the arrest of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307.
It
is claimed that 21 million Americans have a fear of Friday the 13th in this day
and age. It has been proven that the number of hospital admissions due to
vehicular accidents rose significantly higher than on "normal"
Fridays. Does it keep most people from venturing out to work and more? No.
Though I wouldn't be surprised if there are those few who carry a rabbit's foot
in their purse or pocket, or something that they believe is lucky for them.
Unlucky
symbols to shun:
666:
The Devil's number, bad luck
Any
bird that comes to your window brings bad luck.
A
dog howling at night when someone is ill in the house
A groom seeing the bride before the
wedding,
A peculiar noise heard three times in
succession at night means someone will due.
A shark pursuing a ship means bad luck,
especially if there are sick people in board.
When one receives a container of food, it
should never be returned empty.
Always say "so long" or "I'll
see you later", and never "goodbye", when leaving family members
or you might never see them again.
Breaking a mirror means seven years of
bad luck.
Don't
cut down a hawthorn tree or the fey will be angry.
A black cat crossing your path. (In some
countries a black cat is considered good luck, so it depends on your view.)
Killing a spider.
Don't
let moonlight shine on your washing, or they'll be the clothes for a funeral
Marrying in May.
Opening an umbrella inside.
Placing new shoes on a table.
Stepping in a crack.
Sweeping
dirt out the front door after the sun goes down means bad luck will come to
your home.
Sweeping over anyone’s feet.
Sweeping under someone’s feet will mean
that person will never get married.
Walking under a ladder.
Goldfish in a house. (But in a pond
brings good luck,)
A bird flying into a house.
If someone borrows salt from you,
pay it back with sugar or bad luck will come.
It’s
bad luck to sing at a table.
Bad
luck to sleep on a table. (Who would sleep on a table?)
Killing
a cricket.
Leaving a dwelling from a door different from the one you
entered.
Beginning
a task on a Friday when you cannot finish that week.
Placing
a hat on either a table or a bed.
Putting
keys on a table.
Seeing
a ghost of yourself (doppelganger) means you will soon die.
Getting
out of bed opposite side of the side you got in when you went to bed the night
before.
Whatever
the case may be for those today, what do you believe? What plans are you making
to do today for the 13th--stay home safe and sound or go out as usual? Whatever
the case, tuck that lucky rabbit’s foot in your pocket, toss salt over your shoulder, and wear something you consider lucky, for Friday the 13th is here no
matter you try to sidestep it.
Good luck to you.
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