13 Things You Didn't Know About: Friday the 13th
13, and Friday the 13th, have only been 'unlucky' for 700 years. Before that, they were 'lucky'.
Among the reasons the number was sacred: its place in the Fibonacci sequence (1,1,2,3,5,8,13...), which, for reasons yet unknown, the natural world strongly embodies.
Friday was also sacred in the dim and misty: in English, the day it takes its name from Freya, a pagan fertility
goddess.
The reason for the change: on Friday, October 13th, 1307, all across Europe, the Knights Templar were summarily executed for sympathizing with pagans (heresy). The entire order was wiped out by Papal decree in the most coordinated military action in history.
Now 13 is considered by Christians' to be 'the devil's number'.
This, despite the fact that Jesus and his 12 disciples numbered 13 holy men.
Unless one believes in a more historical Jesus - in which case, Mary Magdalene makes it 13 disciples.
Because of its history, the number 13 has come to be associated with death.
For example, a proper noose has 13 wraps in its coil.
Likewise, the steps leading up to a gallows traditionally number 13.
So influential was "bloody" Friday the 13th, the majority of skyscrapers do not have a 13th floor.
In Florence, Italy, there are no '13' addresses. The houses between 12 and 14 are labeled "12 1/2".
13 is so unlucky, in fact, that dice only roll up to 12, clocks have 12 hours, many foods come in dozens, and even Christmas has only 12 days. All these come this way so that no one will have to deal with a '13th'.
Among the reasons the number was sacred: its place in the Fibonacci sequence (1,1,2,3,5,8,13...), which, for reasons yet unknown, the natural world strongly embodies.
Friday was also sacred in the dim and misty: in English, the day it takes its name from Freya, a pagan fertility
The reason for the change: on Friday, October 13th, 1307, all across Europe, the Knights Templar were summarily executed for sympathizing with pagans (heresy). The entire order was wiped out by Papal decree in the most coordinated military action in history.
Now 13 is considered by Christians' to be 'the devil's number'.
This, despite the fact that Jesus and his 12 disciples numbered 13 holy men.
Unless one believes in a more historical Jesus - in which case, Mary Magdalene makes it 13 disciples.
Because of its history, the number 13 has come to be associated with death.
For example, a proper noose has 13 wraps in its coil.
Likewise, the steps leading up to a gallows traditionally number 13.
So influential was "bloody" Friday the 13th, the majority of skyscrapers do not have a 13th floor.
In Florence, Italy, there are no '13' addresses. The houses between 12 and 14 are labeled "12 1/2".
13 is so unlucky, in fact, that dice only roll up to 12, clocks have 12 hours, many foods come in dozens, and even Christmas has only 12 days. All these come this way so that no one will have to deal with a '13th'.
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Orchiolum
Posted on 07/10/2008 at 10:07:22 PM
Charlene Collins
Posted on 06/13/2008 at 7:06:57 PM
Grits44
Posted on 06/13/2008 at 4:06:48 PM