Friday 13th – what do you know about this superstition
Around Friday, and especially the 13th, there are a lot of superstitions, though, admittedly, that track how and when these superstitions had so firmly rooted in the public consciousness, is quite difficult. If the fear of number 13 is rooted in antiquity, the calendar Friday 13th of phobias, most likely has its origin in the 19th century. What do we know about some common fears and prejudices associated with this frightening date?
Friday fears
The fifth day of the week is not always enjoyed nor doesn’t it have a particularly good reputation. Among common signs concerning Friday, you can remember the following:
• On this day, don’t you go on a trip.
• On Friday, you cannot change the linens as this will lead to nightmares during sleep.
• In some cultures it is considered a great bad luck to be born on Friday.
• In addition, on Fridays in the old England it was “gallows day” or day of the execution of criminals, so for some it certainly was a very bad day.
Number 13: happy or unhappy?
Not all cultures are considering number 13 with prejudice or negativity. In China, for example, 13 is considered a lucky number. The ancient Egyptians associated the figure 13 with the afterlife, to which they are always ready and thought it quite natural. Apparently, somewhere in the process thr positive anticipation of the afterlife was replaced by the fear of death and the number 13 becomes a dangerous and undesirable. If Friday – it’s just an unlucky day of the week, the Friday the 13th could be called a double blow to superstitious people.
13 guests for dinner
It is believed that you should never invite 13 guests for dinner, or one of them will be threatened with death. Perhaps the most famous example of which was the motive and the basis for this superstition – is 13 people at the Last Supper: 12 Apostles and Jesus, who was crucified the next day, Friday.
Other superstitions associated with Friday the 13th
1. Mirror. Breaking the mirror that day is very bad, because it promises the next seven years of continuous failure.
2. Black Cat. It is unacceptable that in this day a black cat ran across the road to you, otherwise be ready for a trouble.
3. Salt. If you sprinkled salt on Friday the 13th, immediately throw a pinch over your left shoulder to ward off the devil that lurks behind it.
4. Staircase. Never walk under a ladder that day, otherwise you will get any severe consequences. Although it’s probably not safe to wander under the ladder at any day of the week.
Self-hypnosis or caution?
Surely you know that if you watch out for something bad, then it is likely to happen, to draw your negative thoughts and emotions. Or maybe you are so afraid of Friday and number 13, because subconsciously you memorize all the bad things that happened on that day? Usually bad things can happen on any given day, but you memorize only those associated with an unsuccessful number and date. One thing is certain: this superstition is so firmly accepted and memorized by people that discredit it will just not succeed in the near future.
