Friday, August 13, 2010

Do You Fear Friday The 13Th...?


If you do, you aren't alone. This fear, called Triskaidekaphobia has been a problem for a long time!

Many stories and myths surround the origins of the belief that Friday 13Th is an unlucky day, and it's really hard to pin down exactly when the myth started. There are, in fact, so many different origins reported that I couldn't put them all here!

What I did was to choose two that I feel make the most sense, if there is such a thing when it comes to superstitions like this!

Anyway, it makes for some good reading!

The actual origin of the superstition, though, appears also to be a tale in Norse mythology. Friday is named for Frigga, the free-spirited goddess of love and fertility. When Norse and Germanic tribes converted to Christianity, Frigga was banished in shame to a mountaintop and labeled a witch. It was believed that every Friday, the spiteful goddess convened a meeting with eleven other witches, plus the devil — a gathering of thirteen — and plotted ill turns of fate for the coming week. For many centuries in Scandinavia, Friday was known as "Witches' Sabbath."


Another theory about the origin of the superstition traces the event to the arrest of the legendary Knights Templar. According to one expert:

The Knights Templar were a monastic military order founded in Jerusalem in 1118 C.E., whose mission was to protect Christian pilgrims during the Crusades. Over the next two centuries, the Knights Templar became extraordinarily powerful and wealthy. Threatened by that power and eager to acquire their wealth, King Philip secretly ordered the mass arrest of all the Knights Templar in France on Friday, October 13, 1307 - Friday the 13Th.


So there ya go! A little something to think about while we have some coffee on the patio! Don't worry...no bad luck here! Cross my heart!

16 comments:

Stephanie in AR said...

Hard to fear it when two of my children were born on friday the 13th. Guess luck is what you make of it.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I always wondered what it was about Friday the 13th that scared people - thanks for letting us know.

chinasyndrome said...

I am not very superstitious.I have broke most and am still going.All though that last mirror I broke could be the Cause of all my problems!

China
III

Ben in Texas said...

Never really bothered me personally. In fact through my life the 13 has been a good number for me.

Momlady said...

Friday the 13th is a good day. So you have a good day today.

Mayberry said...

Bah, I don't believe in such nonsense! Just don't set sail on a Friday, or bring a banana on my boat! Ha ha...

Dizzy-Dick said...

Thanks Hermit Jim, you always manage to come up with pertinent and interesting facts. I didn't realize it was Friday the 13th till I read your blog this morning. I looked at my watch and it said 8-13, no, not the time, the date.

Niall E. said...

On Friday 13th September 1996 I was hospitalised having been diagnosed with a serious lung condition. I spent three months there. So its not one of my favourite dates (Eventually made a full recovery)

Best Regards, Will.

JoJo said...

Good Morning My Special One
Thank you for the lesson today. I don't believe in this kind of stuff, but had an office mate in my working life who would not come to work no matter what was going on with her job. It was a pain in the butt day for me had to fill in for her. I bet she's at home today too. LOL
Coffe with friends is not to be missed no matter what day it is. :)

Mechanic in Illinois said...

I don't fear Friday the 13th, I'm not scared of anything, except my wife. Thanks for another great lesson.

HermitJim said...

Hey Stephanie...
Right you are! Luck is what you make it! You have a good day today...

Thanks for coming by!


Hey Anon 5:19...
Always glad to share these little tidbits with everyone!

You have a great day, my friend, and thanks for coming by today!


Hey China...
Always nice to have something to blame it on!Maybe that's the real reason we invent these types o days!

I appreciate you coming by today!


Hey Ben...
Many people feel that it's a lucky day for them! Like I said, guess it all depends on your outlook!

Thanks, buddy, for dropping in today!


Hey Momlady...
Thanks for the good wishes...and for the visit today!


Hey Mayberry...
No bananas, huh? I was on a fishing party boat out of Galveston once...and the captain had a thing about whistling! Someone started, and I thought the captain was going to throw him overboard!

I appreciate you coming by this morning, buddy!



Hey Dizzy...
Just seemed like a good post for today, ya know? Besides, I always wondered about this myself!

Many thanks for coming by today!


Hey Will...
Glad you made it through alright! I can see why this wouldn't be one of your favorite dates!

Have a great day, my friend, and thank you for coming by today!


Hey JoJo...
Many people are affected by he fear! I can see where it would cause a problem in the work place!

Hey sweetie, thank you for your visit this morning! You know I appreciate it, right?

Catman said...

13 is better than 12, not as good as 14.

HermitJim said...

Hey Mechanic...
That's probably a good thing to have a little fear of...at least her temper!

I bet you are not alone on that one!

Thanks for coming by today!

HermitJim said...

Hey Catman...
That's certainly one way to look at it! Especially if your talking about something like weapons!

Thanks, buddy, for the visit this morning!

Kyddryn said...

I've always liked Friday the Thirteenth. I was married on one, with a full moon to boot...and I don't blame the day for the failed marriage!

Also, did you know that Friday the Thirteenth is also International Left-Hander's Day?

Shade and Sweetwater,
K

Frugal Canadian Hermit said...

I don't know, but my dodge quit on me on my way to work this friday morning. Coindidence?, I don't know. Just before it quit I was about to take a quick run at crossing the highway in front of a big truck and a car, but I felt a hesitation when I punched it and immeditatly changed my mind then it quit. In a way, I'm thinking that I was actually kinda lucky.