Ancients feared number 13 and Fridays
We have two notable dates at the end of this week
– Friday the 13th, and Saturday the 14th, which is Valentine’s
Day.
Some people might find some irony in the juxtaposition.
Ancients feared number 13 and Fridays
We have two notable dates at the end of this week – Friday the 13th, and Saturday the 14th, which is Valentine’s Day.
Some people might find some irony in the juxtaposition.
I have to admit, even though I know it’s silly, that I do take a little more care when Friday the 13th rolls around. There’s no point in tempting fate, after all.
The superstitions about Friday being unlucky, and 13 being unlucky, happen to enhance each other for a supernova of an unfortunate calendar day.
Friday has been considered inopportune for a long time. Maybe it’s because hangings used to be conducted on Fridays. Maybe it’s because Christ died on a Friday. Or maybe it’s because it’s the end of the week and someone wants to spoil our pleasure in the coming weekend.
According to the Urban Legends Web site (www.snopes.com), Friday has long been considered a terrible, awful, no-good, very bad day. In fact, it’s really astounding, the number of things you shouldn’t do on a Friday.
It is generally considered bad luck to start any new enterprise on a Friday –undertaking a journey, a new job, getting married, beginning a business project, moving, or giving birth.
That last one cracks me up. Can you imagine being in labor and telling the doctor, “Oh, gee, can you make this last a little longer – just until Saturday”?
In addition, it is considered very bad luck to cut your hair or fingernails on a Friday. Bad luck, certainly, for the hairstylist or manicurist who’s looking for clients.
At any rate, let’s get to the fun stuff: names of phobias. If you are morbidly afraid of the number 13, you have triskaidekaphobia. If you have a fear of Friday the 13th, try this mouthful: paraskevidekatriaphobia. Don’t ask me how to pronounce it, I could barely type the thing.
Fear of the number 13 is usually made out to be based on the Last Supper, where there were 13 guests at the table. And we all know what the outcome of that little dinner party was.
There’s another story, this one a Norse myth, about 12 gods who got together to drink a little mead in Valhalla. Loki, the god of mischief, crashed the party – the unlucky 13th guest – where he arranged for Hoder, the blind god of darkness, to shoot Balder the Beautiful, the god of joy and gladness, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow.
So needless to say, you don’t want to invite 13 to your next soiree. Aim for an even number.
Whatever the reason, the number 13 has had a bad reputation since ancient times. Even now, in our high-tech era, 13 is left out when numbering houses and apartments. Often hotels won’t list a 13th floor – they’ll just skip from 12 to 14.
Friday the 13th is coming, and some people will choose not to get out of bed that day. Some people won’t walk under ladders. Some will elect not to play the lotto. Or buy stocks, or play the ponies, or what have you.
Maybe they’ll try to improve their luck by crossing their fingers, knocking on wood, or picking four-leaf clovers.
But most of us won’t really care.
Myself, I’ve decided it’s not the day to buy any Valentine’s presents. Might be too risky.
