Happy Friday the 13th! Or should I say, Ahh! Run! Hide, try to stay alive! It's Friday the 13th!
When we vacationed to the beach recently we were on the 14th floor by reservation. However 13th was skipped completely in the elevator and on all literature so technically .....we were staying on the 13th floor. I had no idea that this was a 'thing' among hotels. All I can say is, it sure had some Great views!
Personally I always saw the 13th as somewhat lucky or even a blessing! My best friend's birth was on a Friday, the 13th. Another best friend/sister's re-birthday (recipient of a heart transplant) was on the 13th. As much as I've enjoyed the day I can see why people began urban legends about the date as history is packed with bad/sad events that happen to fall on those dates. The two best examples I can see for the orgins of the superstition are:
On Friday, 13 October 1307 King Philip IV ordered Jaques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templar, and 60 of his senior knights and scores of other French Templar's to be simultaneously arrested. Thousands of Templar's were arrested and subsequently tortured. They then 'confessed' under duress and were executed.
Biblical times: Some believe the 13th guest (Judas) at the Last Supper betrayed Jesus.
But the superstitions don't just end there. As we all know there are superstitions about breaking mirrors, black cats, opening umbrellas indoors, walking under ladders etc....but did you know Friday was unlucky? Yep, Friday. The most wished for day, our beloved TGIF...was UNLUCKY!
Check http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/historical/a/friday_the_13th_3.htm
When we vacationed to the beach recently we were on the 14th floor by reservation. However 13th was skipped completely in the elevator and on all literature so technically .....we were staying on the 13th floor. I had no idea that this was a 'thing' among hotels. All I can say is, it sure had some Great views!
Personally I always saw the 13th as somewhat lucky or even a blessing! My best friend's birth was on a Friday, the 13th. Another best friend/sister's re-birthday (recipient of a heart transplant) was on the 13th. As much as I've enjoyed the day I can see why people began urban legends about the date as history is packed with bad/sad events that happen to fall on those dates. The two best examples I can see for the orgins of the superstition are:
On Friday, 13 October 1307 King Philip IV ordered Jaques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templar, and 60 of his senior knights and scores of other French Templar's to be simultaneously arrested. Thousands of Templar's were arrested and subsequently tortured. They then 'confessed' under duress and were executed.
Biblical times: Some believe the 13th guest (Judas) at the Last Supper betrayed Jesus.
But the superstitions don't just end there. As we all know there are superstitions about breaking mirrors, black cats, opening umbrellas indoors, walking under ladders etc....but did you know Friday was unlucky? Yep, Friday. The most wished for day, our beloved TGIF...was UNLUCKY!
Check http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/historical/a/friday_the_13th_3.htm
"LEGEND HAS IT: Never change your bed on Friday; it will bring bad dreams. If you cut your nails on Friday, you cut them for sorrow. Don't start a trip on Friday or you will encounter misfortune. Ships that set sail on a Friday will have bad luck, as in the tale of H.M.S. Friday. One hundred years ago, the British government sought to quell the longstanding superstition among seamen that setting sail on Fridays was unlucky. A special ship was commissioned and given the name "H.M.S. Friday." They laid her keel on a Friday, launched her on a Friday, selected her crew on a Friday, and hired a man named Jim Friday to be her captain. To top it off, H.M.S. Friday embarked on her maiden voyage on a Friday — and was never seen or heard from again."
If you ask me, it's all just another day. Bad things happen on any given day not just Fridays and not just Friday the 13ths. If you live your life worrying over what could happen then you will never really live. So go out there, walk under those ladders, break some mirrors and change those stinky sheets on a Friday. Live a little!
