Friday, May 13, 2016

FRIDAY THE 13th

People consider the number 13 as allegedly unlucky number while Friday has the impression of forlorn day.  Putting them together doesn’t sound nice idea that can become the most unlucky day.  It doesn’t happen often but the thing is, it occurs three times a year making bad luck knocks three times.  Why it has the stigma of being bad luck day and on how this day attracts the macabre things, accidents, misfortunes, ill-fated, tragedies, catastrophe, etc. is unsure.  It is just a date so why afraid of Friday the 13th that even some non-superstitious are avoiding the day? 

The famous-infamous Friday the 13th is not a prehistoric thing.  It has just believed to exist in the 19th century when some well-known occasions or events have turned into unfavourable outcome that coincides when the 13th day of the month falls on Friday.  And since then, the wary superstitious people have just associated the undesirable events with the equally undesirable story of ancient times. 

But what makes surprisingly here was why it always draws unusual events during this day?  To cite few infamous tragedy and catastrophe, some of the most terrifying events that have taken place on Friday the 13th are:
1. The Aztecs brutally killed 39,000 in one day on Friday the 13th of August, 1539.  

2. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth came close to death when Buckingham Palace was hit by five German bombs on Friday September 13, 1940 as part of Hitler's strategic "Blitz" bombing campaign.

3. On Friday the 13th of November 1970, a huge south Asian storm killed an estimated 300,000 people in Chittagong Bangladesh and created floods that killed as many as 1 million in the Ganges delta.

4. The U.S. stock market crash that occurred on Friday October 13, 1989, referred to some as "Black Friday," was caused by the breakdown of an airline buyout deal.

5. Even contributed on the myth is the death of Jesus Christ which is said to be on Friday and there were 13 guests in the Las Supper the night before His crucifixion.

But we can make difference to make this stigma change into better.  We have option to not believe in this hype and avoid the Paraskevidekatriaphobia, or the fear of Friday the 13th.  After all, it is not that bad because in some cases it boasts a variety of accomplishments and positive happenings on this inauspicious date.  The iconic Hollywood sign was unveiled on Friday July 13, 1923 originally said Hollywoodland which later dropped the last syllable in 1949.  Prince Harry had arrived in the South Pole on December 13, 2013.  In 2004, the Olympics had returned to its ancestral home on August 13.

The number 13 is so associated in superstitions.  To come across Friday the 13th is something eerie that anything you supposed to do can pause and doubt you somehow.  You don’t want to have bad day.  It is considered unlucky day except if your birthday this year is happen to coincide or unless you were born on the Friday the 13th then in these cases it is your lucky day.

By Alex V. Villamayor
May 13, 2016

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