Post by Man in Black on Jun 13, 2008 0:49:20 GMT -5
On Friday, October 13, 1307 - members of a powerful society were rounded up and arrested by agents of Philip the Fair, King of France. These men were killed in brutal public executions. This day marked the beginning of the downfall of the Knights Templar.
Could the horrific fate of the Templars be the origin of the Friday the 13th superstition? Maybe, but the earliest known English reference occurs in 1869 in the biography of The Barber of Seville composer Gioachino Rossini who died on Friday, November 13.
In numerology twelve is viewed by many as the number of completeness. There are twelve recognized signs of the zodiac, twelve tribes of Israel, twelve Apostles of Jesus, etc... This leaves thirteen as the ultimate odd number. There is even a superstition, which may have emanated from The Last Supper, where it is considered unlucky for thirteen people to dine at the same table as one of them will die.
Friday is considered unlucky in some cultures but mostly when it occurs on the 13th of a month. In a wacky statistical anomaly Friday lands on the 13th more than any of the other six days - having just slightly greater than a one in seven chance.
My favorite part of the whole Friday the 13th mythology is the name given to its phobia - the fear of Friday the 13th - Paraskavedekatriaphobia - a pairing of the Greek words Paraskeví/Friday and dekatreís/thirteen.
Today, Friday, June 13 is our only Friday the 13th of 2008. Next year we will have to survive 3 of them - February, March, November. 3 is the most the day will occur but every calendar year will have at least one. The longest period between Friday the 13ths is 14 months.
Chart of Friday the 13th occurrences from 2001 until 2028 (as you can see there is a cycle)
2001 April, July
2002 September, December F
2003 June
2004 February, August
2005 May
2006 January, October
2007 April, July
2008 June
2009 February, March, November
2010 August
2011 May
2012 January, April, July
2013 September, December
2014 June
2015 February, March, November
2016 May
2017 January, October
2018 April, July
2019 September, December
2020 March, November
2021 August
2022 May
2023 January, October
2024 September, December
2025 June
2026 February, March, November
2027 August
2028 October
