Some people believe that certain things cause mishaps or bad things to occur, commonly called bad luck or misforturtune. 13 is called a so-called bad number, for example. I wonder why that is .
2006-10-07 09:04:39 · 10 answers · asked by ? 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
I just answered this question....Friday the 13th - The Most Widespread Superstition?
The sixth day of the week and the number 13 both have foreboding reputations said to date from ancient times, and their inevitable conjunction from one to three times a year portends more misfortune than some credulous minds can bear. Some sources say it may be the most widespread superstition in the United States. Some people won't go to work on Friday the 13th; some won't eat in restaurants; many wouldn't think of setting a wedding on the date.
Just how many Americans at the turn of the millennium still suffer from this condition? According to Dr. Donald Dossey, a psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of phobias (and coiner of the term "paraskevidekatriaphobia"), the figure may be as high as 21 million. If he's right, eight percent of Americans are still in the grips of a very old superstition.
Exactly how old is difficult to say, because determining the origins of superstitions is an imprecise science, at best. In fact, it's mostly guesswork.
It is said: If 13 people sit down to dinner together, all will die within the year. The Turks so disliked the number 13 that it was practically expunged from their vocabulary (Brewer, 1894). Many cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue. Many buildings don't have a 13th floor. If you have 13 letters in your name, you will have the devil's luck (Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all have 13 letters in their names). There are 13 witches in a coven.
Though no one can say for sure when and why human beings first associated the number 13 with misfortune, the belief is assumed to be quite old, and there exist any number of theories — all of which have been called into question at one time or another, I should point out — purporting to trace its origins to antiquity and beyond
2006-10-10 23:30:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The sixth day of the week and the number 13 both have foreboding reputations said to date from ancient times, and their inevitable conjunction from one to three times a year portends more misfortune than some credulous minds can bear. Some sources say it may be the most widespread superstition in the United States. Some people won't go to work on Friday the 13th; some won't eat in restaurants; many wouldn't think of setting a wedding on the date.
2006-10-07 16:14:45 · answer #2 · answered by Male_42_us 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it all kinds of people believe in such ways they are what they call unlucky or even lucky enough to have odd and even numbers well i love the number 13 it is a very lucky number and it is such an unlucky number and it is a cool number there is no luck it is how you make it the day can not even be blamed on things either well i am still wondering why people say it is such a bad day it is only how you let the day bring
2006-10-07 16:09:25 · answer #3 · answered by skyppolar_green 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Some historians say that Friday the 13th gained it's bad luck association because that is the day the Catholic Church launched its murderous assault against the Knights Templar. It was like the slaughter of the Jedi.
2006-10-07 16:09:34 · answer #4 · answered by holden 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It all have to do with Pagan religion and witchcraft. I believe it is a urban legend about Friday the 13th and that is maybe something about demonism. But, I am a Christian of the Holy Roman Catholic Church and I am very scared of Friday, the 13th, mainly because of its asscociation with the Devil, and horror films.
2006-10-07 16:09:00 · answer #5 · answered by marcyfiorica 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Friday is considered unlucky because Jesus died on a Friday and also because traditionally Friday was often the day for public executions. Friday was often known as the Hangman's Day. Sailors refused to set sail on Fridays.
13 is unlucky because of Judas who betrayed Jesus.
2006-10-09 02:55:03 · answer #6 · answered by samurai_dave 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think because it is Friday and on the 13th and it was bad for them so now it is just bad luck on that day.
2006-10-07 16:17:06 · answer #7 · answered by D'Asia 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
can add nothing to what has already been said by others
2006-10-11 12:57:58 · answer #8 · answered by Marvin R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because they have super stision and they do that to scare you they are full of them selves
2006-10-07 16:08:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
because they're idiots
2006-10-09 21:59:26 · answer #10 · answered by curtis_lloyd2002 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋