Greetings my devilish deviants. Today is Friday the 13th. A very auspicious day, unless of course you suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia or triskaidekaphobia. the latter being fear of the number 13, and the former being fear of Friday the 13th in particular. The history of this fear is interesting and worthy of taking a look at.
Did you know fear of Friday the 13th cost Americans approximately 800 million dollars a year annually, in lost work time, missed travel opportunities, and get this, loss in revenue because people will not get married on Friday the 13th.
Why are some people so distraught over the number 13 and Friday the 13th? To try and figure that out we have to go back into ancient history, around 3000 BCE, to the Sumerians. Back then Sumerians used base 60 mathematics called sexagesimal that had 12 factors. 12 thus became the perfect number in their vast empire of the ancient world. This became a numerical system based on 12. 2-12 hour periods in a 24 hour day, 12 months in their calendar (which we still use as a base for our modern calendar). So, somehow 13 just became unlucky because it followed the perfect number 12. Kind of like the middle child syndrome of no one loves me. Of course, in mythology we do have the Norse legend of the miscreant god Loki, upsetting the apple cart by being the 13th uninvited guest to an otherwise perfectly balanced dinner party for 12 in Valhalla. We also mustn't forget that nasty Judas Iscariot, he was the 13th apostle to show up for the last supper, and we all know what he did. *Tsk *Tsk
Seriously though, What is all the fuss about? I really do not know my maggoty minions. Old legends, wives tales, silly superstition, perhaps because Mr. Krabs told Sponge Bob there are 13 dirty words?
The truth is no one can really pinpoint the true reason, or precise time, although some researchers tend to agree that this "fear" became popular in the middle ages, and revolved around biblical mishaps.
As far as Friday being added to the mix, there is no written evidence before the 19th century, and still NO clear reason why this fear exists, and do not even get me started how black cats got glommed into the mess! Well, actually, I do know this. You see in the dark ages (dark being the key word), it was believed that witches covens had 13 members, and that witches were servants of Satan. These witches had familiars that came from Satan which were 9 times out of 10 cats, and these cats were black because black is the colour of night when evil lurks. Hence why idiots during the dark ages and middle ages thought black cats were cursed. SERIOUSLY? YES!, and every year at least 10% of Americans FREAK OUT over superstitions concocted by generations of illiterates!
None the less, even if it is because people are a scared and superstitious lot, and we do not really know the whole story about why Friday the 13th is considered cursed and evil, it does not make it any the less true. I guess it's a good thing there will not be another Friday the 13th til January of 2017.
Well, my twisted triskaidekaphobes, thus ends the lesson.
Did you know fear of Friday the 13th cost Americans approximately 800 million dollars a year annually, in lost work time, missed travel opportunities, and get this, loss in revenue because people will not get married on Friday the 13th.
Why are some people so distraught over the number 13 and Friday the 13th? To try and figure that out we have to go back into ancient history, around 3000 BCE, to the Sumerians. Back then Sumerians used base 60 mathematics called sexagesimal that had 12 factors. 12 thus became the perfect number in their vast empire of the ancient world. This became a numerical system based on 12. 2-12 hour periods in a 24 hour day, 12 months in their calendar (which we still use as a base for our modern calendar). So, somehow 13 just became unlucky because it followed the perfect number 12. Kind of like the middle child syndrome of no one loves me. Of course, in mythology we do have the Norse legend of the miscreant god Loki, upsetting the apple cart by being the 13th uninvited guest to an otherwise perfectly balanced dinner party for 12 in Valhalla. We also mustn't forget that nasty Judas Iscariot, he was the 13th apostle to show up for the last supper, and we all know what he did. *Tsk *Tsk
Seriously though, What is all the fuss about? I really do not know my maggoty minions. Old legends, wives tales, silly superstition, perhaps because Mr. Krabs told Sponge Bob there are 13 dirty words?
The truth is no one can really pinpoint the true reason, or precise time, although some researchers tend to agree that this "fear" became popular in the middle ages, and revolved around biblical mishaps.
As far as Friday being added to the mix, there is no written evidence before the 19th century, and still NO clear reason why this fear exists, and do not even get me started how black cats got glommed into the mess! Well, actually, I do know this. You see in the dark ages (dark being the key word), it was believed that witches covens had 13 members, and that witches were servants of Satan. These witches had familiars that came from Satan which were 9 times out of 10 cats, and these cats were black because black is the colour of night when evil lurks. Hence why idiots during the dark ages and middle ages thought black cats were cursed. SERIOUSLY? YES!, and every year at least 10% of Americans FREAK OUT over superstitions concocted by generations of illiterates!
None the less, even if it is because people are a scared and superstitious lot, and we do not really know the whole story about why Friday the 13th is considered cursed and evil, it does not make it any the less true. I guess it's a good thing there will not be another Friday the 13th til January of 2017.
Well, my twisted triskaidekaphobes, thus ends the lesson.
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