Today is Friday the 13th. So many people are scared of this day, one of the reasons being that Jesus was crucified on a friday and his last supper seated 13. And who was the 13th member to be sited at that supper? None other than Judas of course, the one who betrayed Jesus and sent him to his death.
In Norse mythology, the god Odin was throwing a dinner party in Valhalla at his home. He had invited 11 of his closest friends. The god Loki crashed the party, bringing the total number of participants to 13. In the legend, the god Balder tried to kick Loki out of the party and a fight started. Balder died from an arrow tipped in mistletoe.
In Canada and the States (probably elsewhere as well, although I'm not sure of it) there is no 13th floor in tall buildings nor are there apartments numbered 13. It's as if the number 13 doesn't exist. Usually what would be 13 is called 12 b. As if normal people don't realize that means 13! Not only buildings, but try finding a numbered street 13, they skip it or give it a name such as Jones street.
In the States, they never made an F-13, they simply went straight to the F-14 Tomcat, go figure!
Another interesting tidbit involves the Hebrew calendar. It's a lunisolar calendar and therefore needs to have a month added to it occassionally in order to keep the balance between the lunar and solar cycles. The years with the 13th month are considered to be unnatural and therefore unlucky.
Paraskevidekatriaphobia, fear of Friday the 13th, is probably the most widespread of superstitions. There has even been a study done correlating traffic accidents on both Friday the 6th and Friday the 13th. "The risk of hospital admission as a result of a transport accident may be increased by as much as 52%. Staying at home is recommended." This according to the British Medical Journal.
Because so many people are scared of this day, there are claims of millions of dollars in revenue lost due to people avoiding moving, travelling, lack of weddings etc.Personally 13 has always been my lucky number, and Friday the 13th has consequently always been my luckiest day. How about for you? Do you hide away and hope nothing bad happens?
Or do you embrace the day and enjoy it?
who did loki bring?
ReplyDeleteHe didn't bring anyone that I'm aware of Buffy. Odin, plus 11 guests plus Loki makes 13. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm to scared to comment.
ReplyDeleteSilv, ya chicken!
ReplyDeleteSomeday I'm gonna win the lottery on Friday the 13th. Or so I hope before my mortgage is due.
ReplyDeleteDuh... lol I guess I had a blonde moment there... yikes (more like grey these days!!)
ReplyDeleteWell, my Friday the 13th, was one of the better days I've had in a while!!
No fear here!!
Good luck with that KJ :)
ReplyDeleteNo worries about blonde moments Buffy, I thrive on them :D
Hey Skye, just thought you'd like to see the video I got over @ Surrealsky. Silver might like it too.
ReplyDeleteThen again if your fav book was Ghandi you might not like it.
Hope it doesn't offend.
Peace.
13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13,13, 13, 13
ReplyDelete13, 13 times.
Let's see I was married on the thirteenth and that worked out really well.
Also our one and only was born at 6:13 am, weighing 6 lbs 13 ozs.
does 13 bother me?
not in the least.
Has anyone ever heard about Friday the 13th at Port Dover, Ontario.
Big Biker Party day.
I doubt the business in Port Dover mind at all.
I'll have to go to the library to see it KJ, my comp is too slow to allow viewing of such :(
ReplyDeletePenny, if I could put in a smiley icon that is clapping, I would! Sounds like the number 13 is your lucky number as well :D
ReplyDeleteI personally haven't heard of that Biker Pary day, but I'm sure lots of other's have. I'm kinda outta-the-loop on such things...lol.
Between you and me, I hadn't even known there was a Port Dover in Ontario.
oH and one more skye, hubby reminded me our 13th anniversary fell on a Friday the 13th!
ReplyDeleteWe both consider it our lucky number!
Port Dover is a lovely beach town on Lake Erie.
It is touristy but quaint, nice beach, lighthouse etc.,
there is a fishmonger that has been there forever, sometimes, we drive there and buy fresh fish.
Not that we can't buy fresh fish
where we live, but sometimes, you feel like going.
I've never gone on Friday the 13th, but apparently it is something to behold.
here is the link, check it out
http://www.pd13.com/
That is so cool Penny, I guess you're one of the few couples that dared to have the wedding on a Friday, not many would!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link, I'll check it out in a bit :)
hey skye:
ReplyDeleteI noticed when I clicked back here to comment, you had comment number 13!
Wondering, have you tried my blog again?
I moved the music thingy down to the bottom, and was wondering if that helped.
with that movie clip gone now, I was hopeful.
Do try and let me know.
I would appreciate it.
Yes Penny, it had worked. As a matter of fact I had just come from there when I noticed that there was a new comment here from you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for fixing that for me :)
Yeah and I was the 13th son,by my fathers 13th marrige to his 13th sister 13teen times removed and I was born in the 13th month on a Friday the 13th, go figure.
ReplyDeleteSilv, I'm confused, why did your father marry his 13th sister 13 times? Was once not enough? So your mom is also your aunt, interesting. Are you sure you're not from the deep south? Oh, where's my head at? Of course you're from the deep south, southern Manitoba is rife with inbreeding as well :D
ReplyDelete