13 February 2009

How do you feel today?

Paraskavedekatriaphobia (Fear of Friday 13th) not to be confused with triskaidekaphobia (Fear of the number 13)

Apparently, it isn’t as unlucky as you thought, as before the 19th Century, there seems little evidence to support that it was considered unlucky. One mention in literature involves Rossini, in 1869 biography it stated that he believed Friday was an unlucky day and the number 13 as an unlucky number; unluckily for him he died on Friday 13th November 1868!

This is not to say that there are some folk-lore, or theories about the the origin of the Friday the 13th superstition. 12 is considered complete in numerology, as reflected in the twelve hours of the clock twelve months of the year, twelve Apostles, etc., whereas the number thirteen was considered irregular and disliked because of this. Possibly the superstition might derive from the idea of 13 to dinner which comes from the Last Supper and the belief that having such a number of people seated at a table will result in the death of one of the diners or betrayal by one of their number.

Charles Panati, believed that it all stems back to Norse mythology and the fact that Frigga (whom Friday is named for and who is the free-spirited goddess of love and fertility). Supposedly at the time of the Norse and Germanic tribes converting to Christianity, Frigga was banished and labeled a witch. It was thought that every Friday, the spiteful goddess convened a meeting with eleven other witches, plus the devil - a gathering of thirteen - and plotted ill turns of fate for the coming week.

Or it may have more to do with King Philip’s envy of their wealth and power that the Knights Tenplar had which led to their arrest and persecution.

Personally, I think today is just another Crunchie day!

ps and just for thosetechies out there... you know you are there!!!! :-)

Tonight at 11:31 and 30 seconds (GMT) it will be exactly 1234567890 in unix time.

2 comments:

Dark Side said...

Yep me to Crunchies all round...xx

Annette said...

Thanks for explaining why Friday 13th is supposedly unlucky, I've never really known the reason why.
P.S. Crunchie sounds lovely, Thanks.