Now what the heck does that title mean? Well, paraskevi is Greek for Friday and dekatria is Greek for thirteen. Most people know that a phobia is an unreasonable fear. Soooo ... paraskevidekatriaphobia is the egghead way of saying fear of Friday the 13th.
If you go out and ask people if anything bad has happened to them on Friday the 13th, you will probably get a considerable amount of them saying yes. Of course, the same number of people probably had bad things happen to them on Tuesday the 23rd ... but since that isn't an "unlucky day", they probably don't remember the date. But why is Friday the 13th considered unlucky? Come step into the Blogway Boys basement and learn something.
On Friday, October 13th, 1307 Jaques de Molay, the head of the Knights Templar, and 60 of his senior knights were arrested by King Phillip IV of France. They were subsequently tortured, "confessed" and were executed. Now while this was extremely unlucky for these knights ... no ... I checked, it doesn't affect me at all.
Or ...
12 Gods were having a feast in the hallowed halls of Asgard when Loki (god of mischief) crashed the party as the 13th guest and tricked Hod (the blind god of darkness) into shooting Baldur (the god of joy and gladness) with a mistle-toe tipped arrow and killing him. This plunged the world into despair ... but no ... still doesn't affect me.
Or ...
Judas was the 13th person to the last supper ... he betrayed Jesus ... and Christ was crucified on Good Friday. Once again, bad luck for the Christ ... but since he died for our sins, I guess good luck for the rest of the world.
It is estimated that $800 to $900 million dollars is lost to the economy because of this silly superstition. Some people don't go to work, they refuse to fly and they don't make major purchases on the 13th. So maybe it isn't lucky for business at all. It has become a self-fulfilling prophesy.
So, what bad things have happened to you on Friday the 13th?
Friday, July 13, 2007
Paraskevidekatriaphobia
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23 comments:
Funny thing happened a long time ago, one of my units deployed on a FRIDAY [for normal humans a Friday is just another day of the week, but for ancient Mariners getting underway on a Friday was bad news], and it was the 13th day of the month too !!! It was a bad deployment - just like every other deployment !!!
tlrb
Gosh, I've never had an unfortunate thing happen to me on Friday the 13th!
Loved your post, though!
What a name! I yi yi!!
I don't want to let my non Sailors friends hanging on the superticion of starting a voyage on a FRIDAY.
The ancient Mariners believed that FRIDAY was the worst possible day to get underway. It is believed that JESUS was crucified on a FRIDAY. Possible coincidence here, but many ships lost at sea left port on a FRIDAY. Ancient Mariners believed that the best day to get underway was on SUNDAY, yes you got it, JESUS resurrected on a SUNDAY, so it is a good omen.
Okay shipmates, the lesson is over, now go back to work !!!
tlrb
Nothing yet...but the day isn't over yet...Blogway Boys basement sounds like a good place to start for bad things!
Seriously...I think it's a bunch of baloney how people act all weird. If you mindfuck yourself into believing this 13th thing then of course something bad will happen to you...because you have willed it and its realy just in your mind.
tlrb ... so it's scenario #3 for all your seafaring buddies out there.
terri ... I haven't either, I actually don't have good Dec 25ths.
jenny ... how come I just knew that you would be the first one to say something about the blogway boys basement. Watch out before you earn some more swats. 13 sounds like a good number.
Great post! I love to learn and that was really informative
Not a thing bad has happened to me on friday the 13th, however.
Something really good did happen on the friday 13th that one of my grand-daughters was born.
karen ... sounds like the 13th is your lucky day.
Hi Paul, you were kind enough to stop by my blog (altho' I'm in a creative slump right now), so I thought I'd check out yours. I'm enjoying it.
I've never had anything bad happen to me on a Friday the 13th, but I do confess to being slightly superstitious. I just booked a trip to Washington DC for next week b/c yeah, I wanted to avoid flying today. Can't we just call it an endearing quirk?
elle*bee ... all of you quirks are endearing :)
It's actually a lucky day for me!
ogre ... of course it is ... ogres are magical creatures and Friday the 13th is a magical day.
So, what bad things have happened to you on Friday the 13th?
I broke a nail. HORRIFIC, isn't it? From this day forward, I vow never to use my fingers on a Friday the 13th. Anyone up for spoon-feeding me?
haha! interesting post :)
Friday the 13th is not bad for us. but i had a worst thing happened to me on Good Friday. that is really bad luck!!
I have had to endure countless superstitious idiots dithering. That is about it! Happy Friday the 13th!
p.s. In Chile it is Tuesday the 13th that is unlucky.
Nothing! At least, not that I ever noticed what day it was that I get into trouble...Europe has a song, 'Cos I'm not superstitious...'
It's funny. This topic is obviously very common around the blogosphere. (Slow news day, perhaps?) I actually love, love, LOVE the 13th of Friday. Good things always seem to arise. It's the 29th (of anything) you have to watch out for! Nice coming across your blog!
And judging from your profile, you get pretty peeved very easily. Do you think it's because you're an Aries? They usually have off-the-charts tempers. But then feel really guilty after blowing up at someone. Food for thought.
Paul, it has always been my lucky day.Friday the 13th. I find many good things happening to me on this day.
& Hey, it was not a color TV it was sarees [ check @ snow's] :D
i don't carry that superstition. i can't recall any specific bad things happening to me. i did graduate high school on friday the 13th though. i was never so glad to big a place farewell. i definitely nto one of the kids crying about leaving.
bottleblond ... I'll be right over with my spoon.
niki ... you must tell us what happened to you on Good Friday.
david ... Actually the superstition of Tuesday the 13th originated in Spain and has been adopted by most Spanish and Portugese speaking nations.
eve ... I like their "Final Countdown" song better.
lucy ... My profile says Aries, but I'm actually a Pisces, born on March 20th. Aries doesn't start till the 21st ... I don't know why this site got it wrong. Welcome to my blog.
mona ... I'm glad it's your lucky day. But it was 14" color TV's. I did a post on it on my old blog back in Dec of 2006.
In the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the Dravida Munnetra Kashagam (DMK) party swept to a landslide by offering color televisions if they were elected. But the best thing is that they followed through and handed out 90000 sets.
lime ... sounds as if Friday the 13th may have been a lucky day for you ... or at least a super happy one.
I actually had a really freaky and absolutely cool ironic coincidence happen--all involving the number 13. And the last time it was Friday the 13th, it was Pitty-Pat's wedding and I had the best weekend ever! Are you kidding, I love Friday the 13ths!! :)
--snow
LOL!!
oh i was sooo shocked by doctor on that day...
snow ... looks like another vote for Friday the 13th as a lucky day.
niki ... you have to tell us more ... what was so shocking?
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