Friday the 13th: A Review

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Friday the 13th

Some people from all walks of life feared Friday the 13th based on the theory that the number thirteen is unlucky and that Friday is unlucky day. The day is very significant to some to the extent that they feared taking flights and doing business and even getting out of bed because of fear.

Millions of people in the United States alone are affected by a fear of this day making it the most feared day and date in history, based on the study by the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina.  It has been estimated that US$800 or US$900 million is lost in business on this day.

Henry Sutherland Edwards wrote a biography of Gioachino Rossini in 1869 , who died from pneumonia on a  Friday, 13 November 1868 at the age of 76. Gioachino Rossini is an Italian composer who wrote 39 operas as well as sacred music, chamber music, songs, and some instrumental and piano pieces.

To quote from the biography:
He [Rossini] was surrounded to the last by admiring friends; and if it be true that, like so many Italians, he regarded Fridays as an unlucky day and thirteen as an unlucky number, it is remarkable that one Friday 13th of November he died.
Other events and beliefs about the old-age superstition are:
  • Having thirteen people seated at a table will result in the death of one of the diners. Judas Iscariot, the 13th guest of the Last Supper who betrayed Jesus is an example.
  • The number thirteen was considered irregular compared to the number twelve which is considered the number of completeness as reflected in the twelve months of the year, twelve hours of the clock, twelve gods of Olympus, twelve tribes of Israel, twelve Apostles of Jesus, the 12 successors of Muhammad in Shia Islam, etc.
  • Friday have been regarded as unlucky day to undertake journeys, begin new projects or deploy releases in production by many other professions.
  • In the Norse Mythology, 12 gods were at a banquet at Valhalla when Loke, the demi god of mischief arrived though not invited, bringing the total number of guests to 13. He was responsible for the chaos that led to the death of Balder, one of the good gods. 
  • Friday is noted as the day when the great flood occurred during the time of Noah, the day Jesus Christ died, the day Eve tempted Adam to eat the apple, and the confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel.
  • In Brazil, Friday 13 in August is considered unluckier than any other. August (agosto) rhymes with desgosto (sorrow).
The fear of Friday the 13th has been called friggatriskaidekaphobia and triskaidekaphobia means fear of the number thirteen. Whether or not you will consider Friday the 13th as unlucky, bear it in your mind that this superstition only stemmed from beliefs that man has been using and continues to use.

The following months have a Friday the 13th:

Month  Years 
January  1978, 1984, 1989, 1995, 2006, 2012, 2017, 2023 
February  1976, 1981, 1987, 1998, 2004, 2009, 2015, 2026 
March  1981, 1987, 1992, 1998, 2009, 2015, 2020, 2026 
April  1973, 1979, 1984, 1990, 2001, 2007, 2012, 2018 
May  1977, 1983, 1988, 1994, 2005, 2011, 2016, 2022 
June  1975, 1980, 1986, 1997, 2003, 2008, 2014, 2025 
July  1973, 1979, 1984, 1990, 2001, 2007, 2012, 2018 
August  1976, 1982, 1993, 1999, 2004, 2010, 2021, 2027 
September  1974, 1985, 1991, 1996, 2002, 2013, 2019, 2024 
October  1978, 1989, 1995, 2000, 2006, 2017, 2023, 2028 
November  1981, 1987, 1992, 1998, 2009, 2015, 2020, 2026 
December  1974, 1985, 1991, 1996, 2002, 2013, 2019, 2024 

How about you? Do you believe in Friday the 13th? Please feel free to post your comment here.



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