August 13th, 2010

Friday, 8/13/10, Superstition?, Forklore?, Almost Over, Nothing has Happened, I think, It’s just a Date

I cannot believe I have put so much thought into the superstition of Friday the 13th. 

No nothing happened, in this unluckiest day on the calendar.  Nothing was done that could have compromised my well being.  Am I crazy?, I just actually took two airplanes.  Other than the airport in Charlotte being packed, piercing screams from two of our younger passengers on US Airways Express; it was smooth landing. 

I was a little worried about my suitcase.  You know, this company is notorious for misplacing luggage on a non stop flight and I had changed planes.  The luggage made it, as well.

Regarding this superstition, the New York times has quoted in the past that people “would no more buy or sell a share of stock today than they would walk under a ladder or kick a black cat out of their path”.

Millions of dollars are lost every Friday the 13th because people refuse to travel, purchase major items or even conduct business.

And listen to this.  The dealiest associations with the number 13 are the facts that there are 13 stairs leading to the gallows; the blade in a guillotine fell from a height of 13 feet; and a hangman has 13 knots in a hangman’s noose.  I knew you could use this information.

Otis Elevator Co., which is the world’s largest elevator manufacturer says that 90% of U.S. skyscrapers do away with floor #13.

And, Jack the Ripper and Charles Manson? Yes, 13 letters in their names.

To give you more info. than you would want, there are 13 witches in a coven.

But, do not worry because for 2010 Friday the 13th is only happening once.

The evening is almost over….talk to you tomorrow…about a better topic, I hope…

August 12th, 2010

Friday, August 13th, Unlucky?, Superstition? Forklore?

I had not thought about this superstition for a long time.  Today it came to mind when I realized that I would be traveling tomorrow, Friday, the 13th.  Even though I don’t believe that it’s an unlucky day to do anything risky like flying, I cannot help to wonder.

Fear of Friday the 13th is calleld friggatriskaidekaphobia.  Frigga is Friday and triskaidekaphobia comes from a combination of 2 Greek words attached to phobia.

In the Gregorian calendar this occurs at least once a month, but at most 3 times a year.  Any month’s 13th day will fall on a Friday if the month starts on a Sunday. 

Before the 19th century no written evidence for that superstition existed.  But in numerology, the #12 is considered the number of completeness; 12 months of the year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 hours of the clock, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles of Jesus, 12 god of Olympus and on and on. 

The #13 is irregular, Remember Black Friday? 

Just a thought; Superstition, forklore?…..

Talk to you later…..

Information for this post taken from Wikipedia.