Its Friday the 13th!
Friday the 13th has been considered an unlucky day for thousands of years. People who suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia (or a fear of Friday the 13th) avoid leaving their house, driving their car or boarding a plane today in case they have an accident. Hotels and hospitals often don’t build a 13th floor, and airports have omitted gate 13 sometimes. The Norse Goddess (the Goddess of fertility and love) was named “Frigg” which means ‘Friday ‘and “triskaidekaphobia” means the fear of the number “13” It is sometimes called paraskevidekatriaphobia, partly from the Greek word Friday. In Norse mythology a legend depicts 12 gods at a banquet in Valhalla and‘Demi’ the God of Mischief arrived although he wasn’t invited. That brought the number of dining guests up to the number 13. In Norse mythology the number 12 was considered the perfect number of guests at a banquet. A 13th guest was considered very unlucky and could result in the death of a God. Demi was held responsible for the death of one of the Gods Balder during this banquet.
Friday being considered an unlucky or an evil day stems from Christian times. Friday was said to be day that Eve tempted Adam with the apple and God banished them from the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve also were said to have died on a Friday. Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus was the 13th guest at the Last supper and Jesus was crucified on a Friday. In numerology ’12’ is the number of completeness. There are twelve months in the year. There were twelve Apostles of Jesus. There are twelve tribes of Israel. There are twelve Gods of the Olympus and twelve signs of the Zodiac. The number ’13’ is known as the number of change or transition. People are resistant to change and fear that change will bring misfortune. However change is inevitable and it is necessary for us to move forward and grow in ourselves and with our lives.
Some Religions believe that Friday the 13th is a lucky day. Thirteen is the lucky number of the Greek Goddess. Thirteen is associated as the number of fertility, blood and lunar energy. In the Jewish religion 13 year old boys are initiated into the adult Jewish community. The ancient Egyptians believed that 13 was a lucky number as it was related to the 13th stage of the afterlife. In more recent times the Egyptians associate the number 13 with death but not with fear. The Pagan religion links the number thirteen as the ideal number for a witch’s coven. In China the number 13 is considered to be good luck not bad. In Italy Friday the 17th is considered to be bad luck. In my opinion Friday the 13th is an urban legend. I think it is manifested by belief. So if you believe that Friday the 13th will bring you bad luck than in all likelihood you are going to have bad luck on that day. However if you don’t believe this to be true, it will just be like any ordinary day. Happy Friday the 13th everyone!!!
