Friday the 13th, also known as Black Friday, is considered an unlucky day. This date, of course, is associated with bad luck and superstition, which is why it has its own phobia.
Beware: Today is the second of three Friday the 13th this year. (The next will fall in November.) But even people who don’t avoid black cats or fear walking under ladders must know the facts associated with Friday the 13th.
1. Friday has been considered to be an unlucky day. The day is also associated with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ; he was crucified on a Friday and there were 13 people at the Last Supper.
2. The fear of the number 13 has been given a scientific name: “triskaidekaphobia”; and on analogy to this the fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia.
3. “Frigg” was a Norse goddess who originally lent her name to the word that became “Friday,” and “triskaidekaphobia” is the fear of the number 13. Statistically speaking, the day is more dangerous than any other.
4. ‘Don’t Open an Umbrella Indoors’ is an old superstition cautioning against bad luck, either upon the umbrella opener or upon the household.
5. Don’t Trust the Moon. Lovers should not swear their devotion under a romantic moon because centuries ago the moon was considered erratic and unreliable, since it changes shape and size throughout the month not to mention completely disappearing on rare occasions during eclipses!
6. Keep the Cutlery Straight On Friday the 13th. You must not cross a knife and a fork at dinner. Not only is it improper etiquette but you will invite bad luck because it symbolizes difficult times ahead.
7. Sit 12 or 14 at the dining table, never 13. Not only will the first person be done eating by the time the last person is served, but it’s extremely unlucky. The origins of this superstition are not hard to fathom, coming from the book of John in the Bible, in which Jesus Christ was betrayed by Judas — the 13th guest at his table.
8. The unluckiness of 13 goes beyond just a table. Many believe that if 13 people meet in a room, one of them will die within the year.
9. If you have a date planned for 13th Friday night, cancel it. An old English superstition holds that any courtship undertaken on a Friday is doomed.
10. Most people know that breaking a mirror is said to bring seven years of bad luck, but you may not know that mirrors must also be covered up in the presence of the sick or dying. This is because, by some traditions, the patient may happen to look in the mirror and see death lurking in reflection.
11. Sexism Meets Superstition. If you’re a woman on a boat or a ship, your very presence may endanger the crew, according to old marine superstitions. A woman who boards a ship, even temporarily, may prophecy a watery doom.
12. The fear of the number 13 is so pronounced that some constructors refuse to make a building with more than 12 floors. Some buildings even refuse to have 13th floor and directly proceed to the 14th from 12th. Is that why there is no Sector 13 in Chandigarh?
13. According to another strange belief, a child born on this day will be unlucky for his/her entire life. However, for a bonus fact, Friday the 13th and the number ’13’ have proved to be very lucky for singer Taylor Swift, who claims the number has helped her in life. “I was born on the 13th. I turned 13 on Friday the 13th. My first album went gold in 13 weeks. My first #1 song had a 13-second intro,” the singer told in an interview.
Oops, I have also listed 13 reasons behind the phenomenon.
Is it going to bring in some bad luck?
I pray not.
Fingers crossed!!!
