Posted by KaraS on May 15, 2005, at 22:27:01
In reply to Any paraskevidekatriaphobes out there???, posted by TamaraJ on May 14, 2005, at 10:45:36
> Well, if so, hope you made it through yesterday unscathed!!!
>
> The origins of the Friday the 13th superstition has been linked to the fact there were 13 people at the last supper of Jesus, who was crucified on Good Friday, but it probably originated only in medieval times. It has also been linked to the fact that a lunisolar calendar must have 13 months in some years, while the solar Gregorian calendar and lunar Islamic calendar always have 12 months in a year. Another suggestion is that the belief originated in a Norse myth about twelve gods having a feast in Valhalla. The mischievous Loki gate-crashed the party as an uninvited 13th guest and arranged for Hod, the blind god of darkness, to shoot Baldur, the god of joy and gladness, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. Baldur was killed and the Earth was plunged into darkness and mourning as a result.
>
> Some also say that the arrest of Jaques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templar, and 60 of his senior knights on Friday, October 13, 1307 by King Philip IV of France, is the origin of this superstition. That day thousands of Templars were arrested and subsequently tortured. They then 'confessed' and were executed. From that day on, Friday the 13th was considered by followers of the Templars as an evil and unlucky day.
>
> Thankfully, there is only one Friday the 13th this year :-) Phew!!!
Not really but that has to be the longest word I've ever seen!k
poster:KaraS
thread:497680
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050513/msgs/498315.html