Today is the first Friday the 13th of 2012. I've never quite seen the big deal with Friday the 13th, having found it quite lucky rather than unlucky throughout my life. In fact, if I am to think about it, I think MORE good things have happened for me on Friday the 13th than any other day out of any given month. Regardless...here are some Friday the 13th tidbits.
Some History and Origins
- Fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskavedekatriaphobia as well as friggatriskaidekaphobia. Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13.
According to folklorists, there is no written evidence for a "Friday the 13th" superstition before the 19th century.
Several theories have been proposed about the origin of the Friday the 13th superstition.
One theory states that it is a modern amalgamation of two older superstitions: that 13 is an unlucky number and that Friday is an unlucky day.
- The number 13 suffers from its position after 12, according to numerologists who consider the latter to be a complete number — 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles of Jesus, 12 days of Christmas and 12 eggs in a dozen.
- Friday is considered by many to be an unlucky day to undertake journeys or begin new projects. Black Friday, in the States, has been associated with stock market crashes and other disasters since the 1800s. Some have suggested that Friday has been considered an unlucky day because, according to Christian scripture and tradition, Jesus was crucified on a Friday.
- In Spanish-speaking countries, instead of Friday, Tuesday the 13th is considered a day of bad luck. The Greeks also consider Tuesday (and especially the 13th) to be an unlucky day. Tuesday is considered to be dominated by the influence of Ares, the god of war.
- The 13th day of any month will fall on a Tuesday if it began on a Thursday. If a 31-day month contains a Tuesday the 13th, the following month will contain a Friday the 13th.
- According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina, an estimated 17 to 21 million people in the United States are affected by a fear of Friday the 13th. Some people are so paralyzed by fear that they avoid their normal routines in doing business, taking flights or even getting out of bed.
- Mark Twain once was the 13th guest at a dinner party. A friend warned him not to go. "It was bad luck," Twain later told the friend. "They only had food for 12."
- Famous people born on Friday the 13th include Samuel Beckett (13 April 1906), Margaret Thatcher (13 October 1923), Fidel Castro (13 August 1926) and Steve Buscemi (13 December 1957).
- Tupac Shakur Died on Friday, September 13, 1996.
- The Uruguayan rugby team’s plane crashed in the Andes mountain range on Friday, 13 October, 1972.
Friday the 13th Facts
According to Smithsonian Magazine "fear of the #13 costs American a billion dollars per year in absenteeism, train and plane cancellations, and reduced commerce on the 13th of the month."
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Fear of Friday the 13th dates back to Nordic Mythology. Many of their thirteenth Gods met with violent deaths, such as Loki, the trickster.
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Ancient Romans regarded the number 13 as a symbol of death, destruction and misfortune.
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Lizzy Borden uttered a total of 13 words at her trial.
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There were 13 original colonies.
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A witches coven consists of 13 members.
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Tarot Card number 13 is the Death Card, depicting the Grim Reaper
(although it is read as transition or change and not literal death).
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Hotels rarely have a room number 13. Usually it is called 12a or 14. Same with floors of buildings and the elevators without a #13 button. Highways sometimes will skip exit 13 altogether also.
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There are 13 steps leading to the gallows.
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13 knots in a hangman's noose.
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13 feet which the guillotine blade falls.
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The driver of Princess Diana hit pillar #13 at Place de l'Alma when she was killed in Paris, France.
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13 people, Christ and his 12 disciples, were in attendance at the last supper. This is where the Christian belief ties in, making Friday a believed unlucky day, as the crucifixion occurred on a Friday.
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Certain ocean liners will be held in dock until after midnight to appease passenger's fears on Friday the 13th.
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British study concluded that even though there were less cars on the road on Friday the 13th
(as compared with other Fridays) more accidents were reported.
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Triskaidekaphobia is the technical name for fear of Friday the 13th.
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Apollo 13, 1970, the 13th mission launched from pad #39 (13 x 3), mission was aborted, after an explosion occurred in the fuel cell of their service module. The rocket had left launching pad at 13:13 CST and the date was April 13th.
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Epluribus Unum has 13 letters.
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The US Seal has 13 stars, bars, feathers in the eagle's tail, 13 bars in one claw, 13 olive branches in the other.
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A "quatrorzieme" is a professional 14th guest hired by the French who had only 13 guests in attendance for dinner, who felt that was unlucky.
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The Chinese, Pagans and others in ancient times marked time by the lunar cycle and calendar, thus 13 was considered a very lucky number.
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In Jewish culture, a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is celebrated when a young adult turns 13 and is the onset of maturity. Again the number 13 is thought to be lucky.
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A baker's dozen consists of 13 for a reason! So the story goes a
witch near Albany, NY demanded 13 items every time she came in to a particular
bakery, and one day the old baker could not afford her extra biscuit. She
then on, until he brought her another 13 rolls. After that life was once
sneered some strange words at the man, and he suffered terrible luck from
again easy for the baker and word spread around town. The custom
is still sometimes practiced today.
Have a Fantastic Friday the 13th!
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