Friday the 13th! Yikes?

Friday the 13th is traditionally an unlucky day. And while I have always known this, I have never known why. So I went on a quest to find out the history of this unluckiest day. First of all, I found out there is a name for the fear inspired by this day; it is friggatriskaidekaphobia. This word was coined in 1911 and appeared in “mainstream” in 1953.


According to the Wikipedia, one theory states that it is a modern amalgamation of two older superstitions: that thirteen is an unlucky number and that Friday is an unlucky day.



In numerology, the number twelve is considered the number of completeness, as reflected in the twelve months of the year, twelve signs of the zodiac, twelve hours of the clock, twelve tribes of Israel, twelve Apostles of Jesus, twelve gods of Olympus, etc., whereas the number thirteen was considered irregular, transgressing this completeness. There is also a superstition, thought by some to derive from the Last Supper or a Norse myth, that having thirteen people seated at a table will result in the death of one of the diners.



Friday has been considered an unlucky day at least since the 14th century's The Canterbury Tales, and many other professions have regarded Friday as an unlucky day to undertake journeys or begin new projects. Black Friday has been associated with stock market crashes and other disasters since the 1800s. It has also been suggested that Friday has been considered an unlucky day because, according to Christian scripture and tradition, Jesus was crucified on a Friday.



But whatever the origin, we can be sure that it is another reason to party! Why not throw a Friday the 13th Freak Out party, with some simple decorations and a roaring good time? Make sure you invite the appropriate number of guests, 12, so that with you included you have a total of 13 people. Start the party off right with an open ladder in front of your door, so that all who enter will have to pass under it. Open some colorful umbrellas and sprinkle them around the room. Horseshoes hung so they point down would make great decorations at the corner of a “Friday the 13th” banner. If you were interested in party games you could toss PLASTIC mirrors to each other, until someone drops it. You could have saltshaker relay games. Be sure to incorporate your favorite superstitions while you are thumbing your nose at traditional fears.



What ever you decide to do for entertainment, make sure you remove all solid wood items from reach…there will be no knocking on wood at this party!