Today is the second Friday the 13th of this year, and the number 13 has long been considered unlucky.
Remember the Knights Templer? On October 13, 1307, scores of French Templars were arrested, tortured and made to confess to false crimes like heresy, homosexuality, financial corruption, devil worshipping, fraud, spitting on the cross.
In numerology, twelve is complete and perfect, twelve hours, months. Twelve gods on Mount Olympus, twelve signs of the zodiac, twelve disciples at the last supper. Because we all know what happened when the 13th disciple arrived home for his dinner, don’t we!
So over time people viewed 13 as 12+1, or “completeness plus one” uncertainty and unpredictability; associating the number 13 with bad luck.
There used to be 13 steps leading up to the gallows. There’s also a creepy legend that a hangman’s noose contained 13 turns, but it’s more like eight. Then kids officially become teenagers at the age of 13, and we all know that’s a scary phase.
But it’s all hocus pocus, right?
Look, I love good superstitions, and I’m fully aware of how a mindset can affect your day to day life – The universe, sends me an email every day!
I think its fun and shouldn’t be taken seriously, that it would turn into fear for some – yep an irrational fear of the date is known as paraskevidekatriaphobia.
Here are some other nutty superstitions to get your teeth into. bad luck bad luck bad luck
Walking over two drains is lucky, but three is unlucky. Horseshoes, breaking a mirror, opening an umbrella indoors, a black cat crossing your path, walking under a ladder, and saying the name of Shakespeare’s “Scottish play” Eggshells (crack them so the devil can’t make a boat – what?) Making eye contact when you say “cheers” “Jinx”, when you say the same thing, at the same time. BTW, the first one to say “jinx” can avoid the bad luck.
I hear You can avoid it all if you wear your Lucky underpants – oh wait is that an old wives tale too?
Diary of is a regular blog, by a regular Greenwich mum. Sharing experiences as a local parent (and member of this website) she’ll be writing about everything and anything. And being completely anonymous – you never know – you could have stood next to her in the Post Office or behind her in Cafe W…
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