Well today is Friday the 13th – woooooooo. If you are superstitious you will most probably have avoided black cats, ladders and mirrors today. But why?
According to our friend Wikipedia, font of all information (true or not), the origins of this fear are fairly recent (the 19th century) but not exactly clear. There seem to be 3 theories in play.
- The first is that the number 13 transgresses the completeness and regularity of the number 12 (in numerology) so therefore must be unlucky. When coupled with the day of Friday, which has been seen to be unlucky since “the Canterbury Tales” (14th century), Jesus’s betrayal (which took place on Friday the 13th) and his crucifixion (another Friday); and more recently “Black Friday” on the stock market – it can’t be a good thing.
- The second is buried in Norse mythology. Friday is apparently named for Frigga, the free-spirited goddess of love and fertility. When Norse and Germanic tribes converted to Christianity, Frigga was banished in shame to a mountaintop and labeled a witch. It was believed that every Friday, the spiteful goddess convened a meeting with eleven other witches, plus the devil — a gathering of thirteen — and plotted ill turns of fate for the coming week. For many centuries in Scandinavia, Friday was known as “Witches’ Sabbath.”
- And lastly a link to the Knights Templar, an order founded to protect Christian pilgrims during the Crusades. Anyway the Templar Grand Master, Jacque De Molay, was eventually burnt at the stake after all the Knights were arrested and captured on Friday the 13th. In his dying breath he cursed both King Philip of France and Pope Clement V, who were responsible for the betrayal. Both men later died that year, adding to the power of the superstition.
Whether you are superstitious or not, you may find yourself being a little more cautious today. And you won’t be the only one. Whilst Friday the 13th is not viewed in the same light in the Arab world, partly I’m sure because their calendar is completely different, they do however have their own customs and quirks, and methods to avoid Jinn (supernatural creatures), which I found very interesting (thanks to The National for sharing these with us today).
- Seeing an owl or hunchback upon leaving the house is considered to bring bad luck for the day
- Leaving shoes on their sides or upside down will bring bad luck.
- When building a new house you should spray salt on the foundations and burn incense to keep Jinn away.
- Carrying a turquoise rock will protect you from the evil eye.
- One should not use the word “death” as discussing it is sure to bring bad luck.
- Hearing crows at night, or a sudden sound inside a well, is believed to lead to misfortune.
- Name your male children with strong names, like Laith (lion) or Saqr (falcon) to repel enemies encountered on the road.
- Slaughter a goat near a new house or car, and distribute the meat to the poor, to bring good “baraka” or blessings.
- Single girls will pinch a new bride so that they too will get “lucky” and find a husband.
Oddly enough the number thirteen is favoured here, as are all odd numbers in Islam. And Friday is a holy, sacred day for Muslims. So it may just be lucky instead!
Let’s leave it there.
Image source: Paranormal Knowledge
Story idea: Stuart Russell