2007-07-13 08:49:02 · 22 answers · asked by jay j 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Just superstition..
2007-07-13 08:51:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
The belief that Friday 13th is an unlucky day is one of the most widely know superstitions in Britain today.
The superstition surrounding Friday the 13th is actually a combination of two separate fears — the fear of the number 13, called triskaidekaphobia, and the fear of Fridays.
Unlucky 13
It is unlucky to have thirteen at a table or in a company. The number 13, in the Christian faith, is the number of people at the Last Supper, with the 13th guest at the table being the traitor, Judas.
The unlucky number 13 is often left out when numbering houses, flats and hotel rooms.
Fridays
Fridays have been considered an unlucky day since the medieval times.
It is generally considered bad luck to start anything on a Friday - a new journey, job, marriage, business project, giving birth, moving house
It is unlucky to cut fingernails and hair on a Friday.
In Britain, Friday was the conventional day for public hangings, and there were supposedly 13 steps leading up to the noose!
Friday is consider an unlucky day in some religions
2007-07-13 15:57:26 · answer #2 · answered by trina5254 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The origins of Friday superstitions are many. One of the best known is that Eve tempted Adam with the apple on a Friday. Tradition also has it that the Flood in the Bible, the confusion at the Tower of Babel.
The origins of the Friday the 13th superstition have also been linked to the fact there were 13 people at the last supper of Jesus, who was traditionally crucified on Good Friday, but it probably originated only in medieval times.
It has also been linked to the fact that a lunisolar calendar must have 13 months in some years, while the solar Gregorian calendar and lunar Islamic calendar always have 12 months in a year.
Another suggestion is that the belief originated in a Norse myth about twelve gods having a feast in Valhalla. The mischievous Loki gatecrashed the party as an uninvited 13th guest and arranged for Hod, the blind god of darkness, to shoot Baldur, the god of joy and gladness, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. Baldur was killed and the Earth was plunged into darkness and mourning as a result.
Some also say that the arrest of Jaques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templar, and 60 of his senior knights on Friday, October 13, 1307 by King Philip IV of France is the origin of this superstition. That day thousands of Templars were arrested and subsequently tortured. They then 'confessed' and were executed. From that day on, Friday the 13th was considered by followers of the Templars as an evil and unlucky day.
2007-07-15 17:57:15 · answer #3 · answered by Python 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is unlucky according to the Celtic pagan religion if a full moon falls on Friday the 13th (every seven years or so). Friday and the number thirteen was considered unlucky. If a full moon showed itself on such an unlucky day, people thought further bad things would happen. The pagans had to appease this by making a sacrifice to the gods. They did this by sacrificing a human. Death of anyone was scary, which is why Friday the 13th is considered unlucky.
2007-07-13 17:04:58 · answer #4 · answered by snowball 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
On October 13, 1307, a Friday, Philip IV, also known as Philip "The Fair", had the entire known order of the Knights Templar arrested. They were arrested on a trumped up charge of Heresy, and were tortured into confessing.
The notion that the bad luck attributed to Friday the 13th is related to the apostle Judas is ridiculus.
There were only 12 Apostles. Even if there were 13, Judas could not have been the 13th. Here is a list of the apostles in order of when they joined with Jesus
Simon Peter,
Andrew,
James,
Phillip,
Thomas,
Matthew,
Bartholomew,
Simon,
Jude,
Judas,
James,
and John
2007-07-13 16:08:50 · answer #5 · answered by Daniel M 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just another old wives tale !! loosely connected to a military disaster I think .
As for number 13 ..., over 50 years ago my parents got fast tracked to a new house because it was number 13 and several families higher on the list refused to take number 13 !!!
We had fantastic neighbours and they lived in that house very happily for 45 years so I have never considered anything to do with the number 13 unlucky !!
2007-07-13 16:01:41 · answer #6 · answered by Scobill 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
At the Last Supper there were 13 people round the table. Jesus and 12 disciples. One of them left that night to betray Jesus: Judas the 13th person in that company killed himself on a Friday : put the two together and traditionally Friday the 13th is associated with ill fortune.
2007-07-13 15:54:41 · answer #7 · answered by Raymo 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jesus was the 13th man at the table at the Last Supper. After they had eaten, the trouble began. Jesus was wrongly arrested and taken away, tortured, beaten, then finally hung on a cross that next morning.
Good Friday? I hardly think so.
2007-07-13 15:56:40 · answer #8 · answered by joe_on_drums 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Someone once walked down a flight of stairs and it had 13 steps. Just when he got to the last one...a figure which looked very much like himself passed. Guess what happened.
2007-07-16 11:44:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has something to do with the last supper, and as well as the 12 disciples, Judas was the 13 member, and he betrayed Jesus.
2007-07-13 16:03:02 · answer #10 · answered by Jeanette 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't know the term 'comsidered unlucky' but sounds superstitious
2007-07-13 15:58:19 · answer #11 · answered by Clint 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋