FRIDAY THE 13th
Any month that begins on a Sunday will contain a Friday the 13th, and there is at least one Friday the 13th in every calendar year. Celebrations on Friday the 13th have a similar theme to Halloween. Fear of Friday the 13th is called "Paraskavedekatriaphobia", derived from three Greek words. One recent survey conducted in Asheville, North Carolina, claimed that 17 million to 21 million people in the United States are affected by Friday the 13th, avoiding taking flights, or, in some cases, even getting out of bed. Many people also believe Friday the 13th is a lucky day for children to be born. It is considered especially unlucky to have 13 people at the table during a meal, such as in Agatha Christie's mystery novel, Thirteen at Dinner. Some notable events that led to this dates ominous reputation... - The Ancient Egyptians thought the number 13 was lucky because they believed that the 13th stage of life was related to the afterlife. After the decline of the ancient Egyptian civilization the number 13 was still associated with death but with fear. - A Norse Myth about Friday the 13th details 12 gods having a feast in Valhalla. The mischievous Loki crashed the party as an uninvited 13th guest and arranged for Hod, the blind god of darkness, to shoot Baldur, the god of joy and gladness, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. Baldur was killed and the Earth was plunged into darkness and mourning as a result. - In Christianity
the Friday the 13th taboo stems from the Bible. Thirteen ate at The Last Supper and so that number was seen as unlucky; and Christ was crucified on a Friday, so that day was regarded as fatal. - Some people believe that the number 13 and black cats, which are associated with Friday 13, are symbols of femininity. Friday the 13th has been commercialized by Hollywood movies such as American cult horror film “Friday the 13th” and its sequels. An image of a hockey mask is often associated with the film. - On Friday October 13th 1307, officers of King Philip IV of France carried out mass arrests in a well coordinated dawn raid that left several thousand Templars, knights, sergeants, priests, and serving brethren in chains, charged with heresy, blasphemy, various obscenities, and homosexual practices. Most of the Templars were eventually executed and their sympathizers condemned Friday the 13th as an evil day. - In the 18th century, the ship HMS Friday was launched on Friday the 13th. It was never heard from again. Since then, ships are not usually launched on that date - Rossini, the composer, regarded Friday as an unlucky day and 13 as an unlucky number. He died on Friday November 13th, 1868. - President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th day of any month and would never host 13 guests at a meal. Napoleon and President Herbert Hoover were also triskaidekaphobic, with an abnormal fear of the number 13. - Researchers in 1993 found that on Friday the 13th fewer people were driving than normal, because of superstition, yet there were more transport accidents even though there were fewer vehicles on the road. Some notable detractors... - In 1913 a pastor in Middletown, New Jersey, decrying the superstition, offered to marry couples for free on Friday the 13th. - In 1908, a senator from Oklahoma defied superstition by introducing 13 bills on Friday the 13th. - According to CNN.com, one British couple won $17 million after buying their lottery ticket on Friday 13, the same day that their mirror at home fell and broke. In Brazil
Friday 13th in August is considered unluckier than any other Friday 13th, especially as agosto (August), which rhymes with desgosto (sorrow). The next August 13th is 2021. In other South American countries, Tuesday the 13th is equivelant to Friday the 13th, since Tuesday is considered unluckier then Friday. The Movie "Friday the 13th" was re-named "Tuesday the 13th" in South America.