Friday the Thirteenth
Posted by eat-the-world in culture , countries
(Photo: I-SEEN-IT Rubens )
It is the third time this year that Friday on the thirteenth day of the month falls. Mathematicians have calculated that it may happen one to three times per year to meet a Friday the Thirteenth. Who is superstitious, lives extremely careful on those days and who is not, lives on as before. Which way is probably better for the Friday the Thirteenth? 
The traditions and customs that are connected with the word superstition, usually give no sense at first glance, as with Friday the Thirteenth. One of the most famous stories in superstition is probably the black cat that brings bad luck. This idea originated in the Middle Ages. Black cats were seen as helping spirits of witches and were just as they hunted.
The theory that you should not pass under a ladder, has a very different, even logical approach. If a craftsman working on a ladder, it may happen that the tool falls down, injuring passers-by. The result was the warning legend.
The history of Friday the Thirteenth is more complex. Even the Friday itself is afflicted with negative events of the week. On Good Friday, Jesus was crucified and Adam and Eve were driven from Paradise on a Friday.
The Thirteen is also known as the Devil's dozen. The number 12 is a sacred number in many cultures and the mess that is created by the 13 (ie 12 +1), is a sign of misfortune.
The Christian solar calendar with 12 months supplanted the Celtic lunar calendar consisted of 13 months. Apparently you who miss 13 a negative image tried to ban them from the minds of people.
Today there are even hotels without 13 Floor or aircraft without 13 Row. The superstition has borne fruit and there are even people who are terrified of the 13 have. This fear is called Triskaidekaphobia. The way to Spain or Greece is not Friday, but Tuesday the 13th as unlucky.
We must realize that superstition has not really anything to do with bad luck, but rather with history and in exceptional cases with caution. The right way is probably to ignore the unlucky because statistically no more or less accidents happen. Do you believe in the unwritten laws?
