Are you superstitious?

Friday the 13th

Date When Celebrated : Occurs one to three times a year, when the 13th of the month falls on a Friday

  • 2015: February, March, November
  • 2016: May
  • 2017 January, October

Are you superstitious? Then, Friday the 13th is a day you may look forward to with fear! Friday the 13th, is an unlucky day, a day when bad things can happen. Whatever you do, don’t walk under a ladder, and don’t let a black cat cross your path on this day.

Throughout most of recorded history, the number 13 has been seen as an unlucky number. If you live in fear of the number 13, you suffer from Triskaidekaphobia.

Historically, and perhaps a bit oddly in today’s world, Friday has been viewed as an unlucky day of the week. We find this hard to fathom. After all, Friday is TGIF!! However, in days gone by, when you put the unlucky day of Friday, together with the unlucky #13, many people believe only bad things can happen.

Interestingly, there is a sizable number of optimists, who embrace Friday the 13th and the number 13. They shrug off the superstition and go buy lottery tickets with the number 13 in it.

For many who never gave it a thought, Jason in the movie “Friday, the 13th” (1980) made believers in the fearfulness of this day.

Friday the 13th Trivia:

  • Many buildings and skyscrapers do not have a 13th floor.

  • Many people will not allow 13 people at the table. If there is exactly 13 people present, a second table is set up.

  • Skippers would not go out to sea with a crew of 12. Including the captain, that made 13 people.

  • Ancient Mayans of Central America were the most advanced culture in all of the Americas. They considered the number 13 sacred.

Like any other special or wacky day, we encourage you to fully embrace the day and have fun with it. But, don’t cower in your room in fear of this day. You’d miss all of the fun and excitement!

Origin of Friday the 13th:

In biblical references, it is believed that Cain killed Abel on Friday the 13th. We are not sure how this was determined, as calendars were unlikely to have been in existence back then.

We do know with certainty, the ancient Babylonian Code of Hammurah omitted the #13 in it’s list of laws. Written in 1,700 B.C., it suggests ancient Babylonians considered the #13 to be unlucky.

 

From Holiday Insights