Hey all you Paraskevidekatriaphobics out there. I suppose most of you will be staying home today, locked inside for security. Yep, Friday the 13th is upon is! But really, whats the deal with Friday the 13th and why are we taught from a young age that this is a day to fear?
Well it seems that this is the convergence of two traditional unlucky things!
UNLUCKY FRIDAY + UNLUCKY 13 = UNLUCKIER FRIDAY
I guess we have always heard that 13 is an unlucky number for some reason. But I didn’t realize Friday was given that same name. But check out this story I discovered while doing a little bit of research
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 From : http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/historical/a/friday_the_13th_3.htm
So fun! ( well I guess not for those on the Friday!)
As I was reading some history, it seemed that a lot of this talk about Friday and 13 have a long history in humanity, and that when Christianity spread it change them even more. It seems to me however, that the presence of the Christ would not have demonized these things, but set people free from the fear of them!
The LORD is my light and my salvation–whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid? Ps 27:1
or what about this bit of truth
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8
Seriously, if God if for us, can a day of the week and a number conspire against us?
Enjoy the great day! ( and leave the salt at home!)