english,
Friday the 13th. A day so terrifying that people have already given the fear of it an equally terrifying name: Paraskevidekatriaphobia. A day when most people around the world feel a little bit unlucky. But where does this fear come from and why?
Fridays and 13s
History has always been a little harsh on the number 13.
Take Christianity’s “The Last Supper” for example. There were 13 people sitting at the table and Judas was said to be the 13th guest to sit down. Judas later betrayed Jesus on the night before his death by ratting him out to the soldiers hunting him.
In a deck of tarot cards, the 13th card is none other than Death and though it signifies change or the beginning of something new, people have always misunderstood its meaning.
People also consider the number 13 as irregular and even excessive in contrast to the number 12 which is considered the number of completeness as it represents the 12 months, the 12 gods of Olympus, and the 12 hours of the clock.
In modern times, the fear of the number 13 is still prevalent. People believe that it brings misfortune and calamity. Hotels and hospitals avoid having a 13th floor or a 13th room. Cities skip the number 13 when numbering their streets and avenues. People have also linked having a name with 13 letters to being “cursed” as some famous serial killers have 13 letters in their name.
Friday the 13th
This is a little less well known but Friday wasn’t spared from being labelled as an unfortunate day.
According to Christian scriptures, Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit on a Friday. It also didn’t help that supposedly, Jesus was crucified also on a Friday.
In Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, it is said that this day causes ill luck and troubles.
With these in mind, it is no surprise that the combination of the number 13 and Friday would cause paranoia among the superstitious. Finland actually sets their National Accident Day on a Friday the 13th to raise awareness about safety in their everyday lives.
Coincidentally or perhaps a sign that the beliefs are to be feared, some disastrous events happened on this day. Here are some examples:
The most notable for businessmen in the past was the Friday the 13th Mini-Crash of the U.S stock market that happened on October 13, 1989.
More than 30 passengers aboard the Costa Concordia died when the ship crashed off the Italian coast on January 13, 2012.
On October 13, 1972, two instances of plane crashes were recorded. One crashed into the Andes Mountains in South America while carrying a rugby team and only 13 of them survived.
A 13 year old boy from Suffolk, England got struck by a lightning bolt at 13:13 on Friday the 13th.
Only lasts a day
As scary as people claim it to be, Friday the 13th is nothing more than 24 hours. The sun will set and will rise to give way to a new day.
Whether or not it is really an unlucky day, nothing is set in stone and we all have the power to change our fate one way or another. In the end, it is up to us if we will step out into the world with our heads held high or believe that our chances in life can be dictated by a day and a number. //by Fiel Delos Reyes, Storm Gatchalian
Sources:
https://www.seattletimes.com/life/13-of-the-worst-events-that-happened-on-friday-the-13th/
http://time.com/3708874/friday-the-13th-things-to-know/
http://people.howstuffworks.com/do-murderers-disproportionately-have-13-letters-in-names.htm
Feature: Frightday the 13th
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| Photo Source: Popkey |
Fridays and 13s
History has always been a little harsh on the number 13.
 |
| Photo Source: Wikipedia Commons |
Take Christianity’s “The Last Supper” for example. There were 13 people sitting at the table and Judas was said to be the 13th guest to sit down. Judas later betrayed Jesus on the night before his death by ratting him out to the soldiers hunting him.
 |
| Photo Source: Tarot Parlor |
People also consider the number 13 as irregular and even excessive in contrast to the number 12 which is considered the number of completeness as it represents the 12 months, the 12 gods of Olympus, and the 12 hours of the clock.
In modern times, the fear of the number 13 is still prevalent. People believe that it brings misfortune and calamity. Hotels and hospitals avoid having a 13th floor or a 13th room. Cities skip the number 13 when numbering their streets and avenues. People have also linked having a name with 13 letters to being “cursed” as some famous serial killers have 13 letters in their name.
Friday the 13th
This is a little less well known but Friday wasn’t spared from being labelled as an unfortunate day.
 |
| Photo Source: godandscience.org |
According to Christian scriptures, Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit on a Friday. It also didn’t help that supposedly, Jesus was crucified also on a Friday.
In Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, it is said that this day causes ill luck and troubles.
With these in mind, it is no surprise that the combination of the number 13 and Friday would cause paranoia among the superstitious. Finland actually sets their National Accident Day on a Friday the 13th to raise awareness about safety in their everyday lives.
Coincidentally or perhaps a sign that the beliefs are to be feared, some disastrous events happened on this day. Here are some examples:
The most notable for businessmen in the past was the Friday the 13th Mini-Crash of the U.S stock market that happened on October 13, 1989.
More than 30 passengers aboard the Costa Concordia died when the ship crashed off the Italian coast on January 13, 2012.
On October 13, 1972, two instances of plane crashes were recorded. One crashed into the Andes Mountains in South America while carrying a rugby team and only 13 of them survived.
A 13 year old boy from Suffolk, England got struck by a lightning bolt at 13:13 on Friday the 13th.
Only lasts a day
As scary as people claim it to be, Friday the 13th is nothing more than 24 hours. The sun will set and will rise to give way to a new day.
Whether or not it is really an unlucky day, nothing is set in stone and we all have the power to change our fate one way or another. In the end, it is up to us if we will step out into the world with our heads held high or believe that our chances in life can be dictated by a day and a number. //by Fiel Delos Reyes, Storm Gatchalian
Sources:
https://www.seattletimes.com/life/13-of-the-worst-events-that-happened-on-friday-the-13th/
http://time.com/3708874/friday-the-13th-things-to-know/
http://people.howstuffworks.com/do-murderers-disproportionately-have-13-letters-in-names.htm
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