The Origins Of Superstitions Is Not An Exact Science.

Number 13, as a number is thought of as an unlucky … Yet
it is considered lucky and unlucky by many people when
the 13th of the month falls on Friday.

In this year, 2009, Friday the 13th occurred in the Month
of February, March and November. The next year to contain
THREE Friday the 13 dates is going to be the year of
2012.

The exact origin of this superstition is not known, but
the following information began to be contemplated as
such sometime during the 19th century.

In our modern Day and Age there are many people who
insist that the 13 is an unlucky number, and that Friday
is an unlucky day – period.

When we think of numbers we tent to visualize “12” as a
whole number:

We have 12 hours in a clock, 12 month in a year, there
are 12 Zodiac signs, 12 tribes of Israel, Jesus had 12
Apostles, we hear about 12 Gods of Olympus and many more…

The Number 13, began to be considered odd. There were 13
people sitting at the table when Jesus had the Last
Supper, hence the modern concept is that if that many
people are sitting at the table one of them would have to
die during that year.

Since the 14th century (when The Canterbury Tales were
written) Friday was considered as unlucky day to begin
new projects or journeys.

Jesus was crucified on Friday -  therefore it is
considered an unlucky day.

There is another reference to unlucky Friday at the time
of the beginning of Christianity:

During the time when Norse and Germanic tribes converted
to Christianity Friday was named after the free-spirited
goddess of love and fertility, Frigga, who was banished
and considered to be a witch.

The insulted and spiteful goddess was holding meetings
every Friday with 11 witches and the devil to plot bad
events for the next week.

An important event happened on Friday, October the 13th,
1307 in France, when the Knights Templar,  (a monastic
military order protecting Christian pilgrims during the
Crusades) was arrested by the order of King Philip,
because he was jealous of the Knights Templar power and
wealth. (This event was part of The Da Vinci Code in
2003).

Close to twenty five million people in the North America
fear the Friday in general. Those people avoid getting
out of bed, if they can help it, don’t do business, don’t
undertake any traveling, etc…

Natural events on Friday the 13th

Due to the large number of events that happen in the
world, a similar list could be compiled for any
combination of day of the month and day of the week.
Events that have been notable for being linked to the
concept of Friday the 13th include:

* Hurricane Charley made landfall in south Florida on
Friday, August 13, 2004.

* The “Friday the 13th Storm” struck Buffalo, New York
on Friday, October 13, 2006.

* The asteroid 2004 MN4 will make its close encounter on
Friday, April 13, 2029.[21]

* Andes Plane Crash of 1972

Besides Friday the 13th there are other superstitions
many people believe in:

Braking a mirror (other include crystal or glass),

A black cat crossing person’s way,

Walking under the ladder, etc.

Should you avoid traveling on this date? In 1993, the
British Medical Journal conducted a study of automobile
travel on Friday the 13th. They found that fewer people
chose to drive on the “unlucky” day, but the number of
hospital admissions due to car accidents rose.

They concluded that “Friday the 13th is unlucky for
some. The risk of hospital admission as a result of a
transport accident may be increased by as much as 52
percent. Staying at home is recommended.”

While travelling on Fridays seems to continue as usually
the Continental Airlines spokeswoman Julie King says that
Continentals planes have a Row 13.

The Delta ticket agent Cassandra Dozier says that at
least twice a month passengers request to not be seated
in Row 13.

Fairmont Hotels spokesman Mike Taylor says that the
company doesn’t experience a noticeable drop in
occupancy on Friday the 13th. But he adds that six of the
chain’s eight American high-rise hotels don’t have a
13th floor.

Many High-rise buildings do not have 13th Floor and many
Hotels do not have Room 13.

Yet, at the Fairmont Hotel in Vancouver, B.C., Room 1313
is frequently requested by guests who believe that the
number is actually good luck.

Since people are more careful and more vigilant on the
Friday the 13th, according to statistics, less fires and
robberies are reported on such a day.

The same should be with driving accidents, but the
contrary is the reality.

It’s being said, that it’s not bad luck but rather bad
nerves – caused by worrying about bad luck are affecting
the way certain people drive – that make the day so
dangerous.

In conclusion I should mention what happened to the
earliest known documented reference in English that
occurred in an 1869 Biography of Gioachino Rossini:

“[Rossini] was surrounded to the last by admiring and
affectionate friends; and if it be true that, like so
many other Italians, he regarded Friday as an unlucky
day, and thirteen as an unlucky number, it is remarkable
that on Friday, the 13th of November, he died.”S

Something to seriously think about – it may be good for
driving and other occasions.

Try it – you may be glad you did…

To Your Health,
Olga O’Mara