How much do you know about Friday the 13th?
The longest time that can pass without a Friday the 13th is 14 months. There was only one Friday The 13th in 2011.
It is thought the former American President D. Franklin Roosevelt refused to travel on 13th day of any month, and would never have 13 guests to dinner, while Napoleon Bonaparte also feared the number 13.
Some hospitals do not have a room 13, while skyscrapers often skip 13th floor, airports avoid having gate 13.
Research by Property Agent Zoopla.co.uk found house No 13 costs £3,929 less on average than any other property, while a quarter of British Streets are built without a No 13.
The root of Firday the 13th phobia is not clear, but there's a belief in Christianity that Friday is an unlucky day of Christ Crucifixion, while number 13 was believed to be inauspicious because there were 13 people at the last supper.
13 also have a sinister connotations in Norse Mythology. An estimate of £550m is lost in business in US because of Friday the 13th phobia, which is said to affect 17 - 21m Americans, and lead to abscence from work, train and plane cancellation. Millions more around the world are affected.
A study in 2003 suggested people who thought they were unlucky should not go out on Friday the 13th as belief in itself could lead to trouble. Other research have indicated increase in traffic accidents on Friday the 13th, but Dutch scientists found fewer accidents & reports of fire on Friday the 13th than any other Fridays.
So whatever you belief is, enjoy today Friday the 13th.
Lanu.
Recent Comments
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There's an article in today's Independent newspaper in the UK by Joe Sommerlad, you can Google it.
This article cites two origins, the first going back to the Last Supper attended by 13 people (Christ + his 12 disciples) on the night before Christ's crucifixion on Good Friday.
The second source of superstition is traced back to the arrest of hundreds of Knights Templar on Friday 13th October, 1307, who were subsequently burnt at the stake, condemning us all to misfortune for the wrongs done to them.
Take good care Lanu and have a great day, personally I'm not superstitious although appreciate why developers should avoid using 13 when planning projects, probably for economic reasons being aware superstitious folk will avoid the number at all costs.
Lol, you are right, imagine having a travel package that takes off on Friday the 13th, you will probably not sell a single ticket. Thanks, will google the independent story.
Very interesting Lanu. Never gave it much thought, but lots of people do, apparently. Great information.
Thanks
Joe
Because we deal with people who are our customers, we need to consider some of these belief system my dear.
Thanks. I do respect everyone's beliefs. I just have never given it a lot of thought personally. I said your information was great and it is.
Joe
Steer clear of those cracks in the sidewalk and fingers crossed for a happy Friday the 13th!
Thanks for the share!
I believe the origins of Friday 13th was because on Friday 13th October 1307 King Philip IV ordered the arrests and death of a chap by the name of De Molay and hundreds of other Templar Knights .
I could be wrong though, because I wasn't around at the time ....or was I ..hmmmm ;-)
Definitely, the origin is unclear. You could be right. It's not important, but just that people are suspicious.
Indeed your right about the origin being lost in the annuls of time. But lets be honest if you were a Templar on that particular day I think you may have had trouble finding a silver lining to the events that befell onto you
Some seem to know a lot about these once powerful templar knights. I believe it is relevant to the history.
I recommend bringing with you a St. Benedict medal during Friday the 13th. It wards off evil.
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One theory why Friday 13th is said to be unlucky is attributed to the Knight Templars.
Founded in 1118 and originally a monastic military order to protect pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land, they became fearsome warriors and one of the richest and most influential groups of the middle ages, thanks to European crown heads of state, who wished to curry favor with the Knight Templars, showering them with lavish donations of money and property.
Due to all these lavished donations, by the 14th Century they had accumulated vast wealth and established castles, churches and banks throughout Western European.
In the early hours of Friday, October 13th, 1307, the persecution and attempted eradication of the Knight Templars began. This came about through secret documents from King Philip IV of France, an avaricious monarch, who coveted the great wealth of the Knight Templars. These secret documents were distributed a month earlier throughout France by couriers.
The documents contained accusations of witchcraft, blackmail, sexual rituals, homosexuality, and heresy. To appease Pope Clement V, who he knew would be horrified at the accusations, and whose influence had led to the successful election of Pope Clemence V, the king presented him with signed confessions from many of the prisoners, gained under brutal torture, admitting to many of the charges.
Reluctantly, after reading these coerced confessions, the Pope issued a papal order to all Western kings that all Knight Templars living in their country be arrested. In 1310, King Philip had more than fifty Knight Templars burned at the stake despite their pleas of not guilty.
In 1312 the order was formerly dissolved by the Pope. Upon dissolution, many confessed and were freed, but many more died in captivity. In 1314, several Knight Templars, including Grand Master Molay were, burned at the stake in Paris, bringing to an end the power and influence the Knight Templars wielded throughout Western Europe.
This led to the long-standing theory and belief that the persecution of the Knight Templars is why Friday 13th is to be feared.
Good history lesson. I also read the same history.
Jerry
If you are right, it is NOT a good thing at all. People burnt at the stake all for jealousy, covetousness and forced confession and all the nonsense. Imagine, yes Friday the 13th ought to be feared indeed. Thanks for a bit of history.