The Links to my previous posts related to different superstitions are given below, do give it a read and give it a thumbs up!

• Black Cat Passing your Way - The Truth and Logics (PartI)
• Walking under a ladder - The Truth and Logics (Part II)

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Since my previous posts on Superstitions are much loved by you all therefore, I have decided to research more on other superstitions. I would like to bring much interesting stuff so you may enjoy reading them and appreciate my work.

Watch Out! Friday the 13th is making its way this year in October 2017. I would like to mention that this year it occurred twice initially in January and the next one is in October.

Friday the 13th is considered to be an unlucky day in Western superstition. Its happens when when the 13th day of the month in the Gregorian calendar falls on a Friday. Friday the 13th known to be the unluckiest or the scariest day can occur at least once every year, and up to three times a year.

Most of us have a firm belief that something bad will happen this day linking some past incidents that happened on the same date and day which had awfully strengthen people beliefs on the superstition itself. As per a study by the North Carolina Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute, in the U.S., an estimated 17 to 21 million people suffer from a fear of Friday the 13th.

People who fear this day are known to suffer a condition called – "paraskavedekatriaphobia" (name given by psychologists) from the Greek Paraskevi for Friday, Dekatreis for thirteen and phobia for fear. It is also called "friggatriskaidekaphobia", is not uncommon. The word comes from Frigga, the name of the Norse goddess for whom Friday is named, and triskaidekaphobia, or fear of the number thirteen.

Origin and Historical Background

Friday the 13th has been regarded as an unlucky day. Why is that so and how was it originated? What is the particular reason due to which this day force many people to fear?

The origin of Friday the 13th is unclear with reportedly no written evidence of Friday the 13th superstition before the 19th century, but superstitions surrounding the number 13 date back to at least 1700 BC.

Biblical origins

There are some biblical origins, which are considered to be linked with this superstition. Here are some of them;

• The superstition is considered to have arisen from Middle Ages, originating from the story of Jesus' last supper and crucifixion. It is said that there were 13 individuals present in Nisan Maundy Thursday, the night before his death on Good Friday. While there is evidence of both Friday and the number 13 being considered unlucky, there is no record of the two items being referred to as especially unlucky in conjunction before the 19th century.

• Some historians have claimed it was the day on which Eve bit the apple from the Tree of Knowledge, the great flood began and the builders of the Tower of Babel.

Different Concepts, Myths and Beliefs.

There are various concepts, myths and beliefs linked to this day. The number 13 is considered cursed across the world from 1000s of years. I would like to share some of them with you;

• A myth related to Friday the 13th is that if 13 people dine together, one will die within a year. The myth was originated from both the Last Supper, when Jesus dined with the 12 Apostles prior to his death.

• Some of the popular myths related to Friday the 13th are that if you cut your hair on Friday the 13th, someone in your family will die. Also, If a funeral procession passes you on Friday the 13th, you will be the next to die. It is not recommended to start a trip on Friday or you will encounter misfortune. Breaking a mirror on or having a child birth will have a misfortune for longer time.

• According to a concept in ancient Babylon's Code of Hammurabi (1772 BC), the number 13 is omitted in the list of laws.

• There is a belief that number 13 is cursed while number 12 is the number of completeness. Historically, it maybe observed as the 12 gods if Olympus, 12 months of the year, 12 hours of the clock, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles of Jesus, 12 Descendants of Muhammad Imams and much more.

• Numerology, also suggests the number 13 to be an irregular number and is also the number of witches you need to form a coven.

• The Canterbury Tales, published in the 14th century, represents Friday a day of misfortune and ill luck. In numerous publications in the 17th century, Friday the 13th was outlined as an unlucky day to take a trip, to begin a new project or to have a major life change (such as a birth, a marriage, among other events).

• The second largest drop of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in history was on Oct. 13, 1989. The day was nicknamed the Friday-the-13th mini-crash.

• The 13th Floor is missing in the tall buildings in many Western countries.

• In the famous novel - The Da Vinci Code, Friday the 13th was discussed by drawing a connection between the slaughtering of the Knights Templar by the Church and Friday the 13th. Also, the arrest of Jacques de Molay, the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, did occur on Friday, Oct. 13, 1307.

Other Unlucky Happenings on Friday the 13th

• A New Yorker Daz Baxter was killed on Friday the 13th in 1979, when the floor of his apparently collapsed while he was trying to be safe on his bed.

• At Thorpe Park in 2009, the £13.5 million SAW ride had its opening premiere, which was shut down due to a computer programming fault.

• In 2010, lightning struck a 13-year-old Suffolk boy on Friday 13th at 13:13. Definitely unlucky for him.

Efforts to improve - Friday The 13th Reputation!

Due to the major unlucky happenings around the world it was necessary to improve it's reputation among masses. Therefore, an organization in 1881 started to put efforts for the same. What the did was that the 13 members walked under ladders and spilled salt at the first meeting in an attempt to dissuade any negative associations with the number.

Despite of all these efforts, the number 13 continues to have an unlucky association today. It is so disliked that many cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue, many high-rise buildings avoid having a 13th floor, some hospitals avoid labeling rooms with the number 13 and many airports will not have a gate 13.

Positive Facts About Friday the 13th!

Despite of all the negativity and scary events, there is still a lot appearing at the end if the tunnel. Let me list down some of them which clearly denies and opposes the curse of Friday the 13th.

• First of all it tells us that the weekend is nearly here! Yayyy!!!

• First nudist colony founded in UK

• Britains were allowed to hang out when the North Devon Club in Metherell opened on Friday 13 June, 1930.

• The sign of Hollywood arrived. It was unveiled on Friday 13 July, 1923. It was built to advertise a housing development, but has since become one of the world's biggest tourist attractions.

So, there exists positivity as well but still it varies from belief to belief and person to person!!

Concluding Remarks...

If a person believes in the superstition of Friday the 13th then they might face danger that day because he would be more anxious and distracted and this could lead to accidents. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. For example, if you tell someone that they are cursed, the higher they belief the more they are at risk and vice versa.

So here, I will leave it on you all to decide about this Superstitions and share your experiences and beliefs.

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