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This is Friday the 13th and because I was curious as to why so many people seem afraid of it, I took a closer look into its origins.
Like other people, I had always assumed that the fear of this day, which occurs one to three times each year, was linked to the crucifixion. Though this is partly true, I found that there were a whole bunch of theories about the day and the fear of it, called friggatriskaidekaphobia (or paraskevidekatriaphobia if you prefer and can pronounce it!), so you can pretty much take your pick.
Numerology is said to regard thirteen as an incomplete and therefore unlucky number. Since at least medieval times, Friday has been regarded as an unlucky day because that was the day on which Eve is supposed to have offered the apple to Adam (though how anyone could have known that is a mystery to me!) and on which the crucifixion was thought to have taken place. Norse mythology apparently considered that having thirteen at a dining table was unlucky and an indication that one of the diners would die within a year, and this belief may have gained credence in later times because there were thirteen attending the Last Supper. Others say that this particular day is an amalgamation of Friday and the number thirteen. There are a variety of other theories.
One thing seems to be clear and that is that the conjunction of Friday with the number thirteen isn’t mentioned in written form until it appeared in an 1869 biography of Rossini the composer who like other Italians regarded Friday and the number thirteen unlucky; for him it may well have been, for he died on Friday the 13th of November 1868. In Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, while both Friday (‘an unlucky day’) and thirteen (‘unlucky’) are mentioned, today’s date doesn’t get a mention until later editions (‘A particularly unlucky Friday’).
It is interesting to note that in the Spanish- and Greek-speaking countries, Tuesdays are regarded as unlucky days and that Tuesday the 13th is regarded as especially unlucky. In contrast, the Chinese regard thirteen as being lucky, as did the ancient Egyptians.
According to some sources, fear of Friday the 13th is said to be the most widespread superstition in America. Many US cities do not have a 13th Street or Avenue and many buildings don’t have a 13th floor. For some, a morbid fear of this date prevents them from starting a project or trip, arranging an important engagement, driving their cars or even changing their bed sheets.
Me? I’m not the slightest worried about today. I’m staying in bed and well out of trouble!
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This is Friday the 13th and because I was curious as to why so many people seem afraid of it, I took a closer look into its origins.
Like other people, I had always assumed that the fear of this day, which occurs one to three times each year, was linked to the crucifixion. Though this is partly true, I found that there were a whole bunch of theories about the day and the fear of it, called friggatriskaidekaphobia (or paraskevidekatriaphobia if you prefer and can pronounce it!), so you can pretty much take your pick.
Numerology is said to regard thirteen as an incomplete and therefore unlucky number. Since at least medieval times, Friday has been regarded as an unlucky day because that was the day on which Eve is supposed to have offered the apple to Adam (though how anyone could have known that is a mystery to me!) and on which the crucifixion was thought to have taken place. Norse mythology apparently considered that having thirteen at a dining table was unlucky and an indication that one of the diners would die within a year, and this belief may have gained credence in later times because there were thirteen attending the Last Supper. Others say that this particular day is an amalgamation of Friday and the number thirteen. There are a variety of other theories.
One thing seems to be clear and that is that the conjunction of Friday with the number thirteen isn’t mentioned in written form until it appeared in an 1869 biography of Rossini the composer who like other Italians regarded Friday and the number thirteen unlucky; for him it may well have been, for he died on Friday the 13th of November 1868. In Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, while both Friday (‘an unlucky day’) and thirteen (‘unlucky’) are mentioned, today’s date doesn’t get a mention until later editions (‘A particularly unlucky Friday’).
It is interesting to note that in the Spanish- and Greek-speaking countries, Tuesdays are regarded as unlucky days and that Tuesday the 13th is regarded as especially unlucky. In contrast, the Chinese regard thirteen as being lucky, as did the ancient Egyptians.
According to some sources, fear of Friday the 13th is said to be the most widespread superstition in America. Many US cities do not have a 13th Street or Avenue and many buildings don’t have a 13th floor. For some, a morbid fear of this date prevents them from starting a project or trip, arranging an important engagement, driving their cars or even changing their bed sheets.
Me? I’m not the slightest worried about today. I’m staying in bed and well out of trouble!
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