Friday, March 13, 2009

The Scope Today Friday 13th-paraskavedekatriaphobia

Friday the 13th is the thirteenth day in a month that falls on Friday, which superstition holds that it is a day of good or bad luck. In the Gregorian calendar, this day occurs at least once a year.

a word derived from the concatenation of the Greek words Paraskeví (Παρασκευή) (meaning Friday), and dekatreís (δεκατρείς) (meaning thirteen), attached to phobía (φοβία) (meaning fear).


One theory states that it is a modern amalgamation of two older superstitions: that thirteen is an unlucky number and that Friday is an unlucky day.

  • In numerology, the number twelve is considered the number of completeness, as reflected in the twelve months of the year, twelve signs of the zodiac, twelve hours of the clock, twelve tribes of Israel, twelve Apostles of Jesus, twelve gods of Olympus, etc., whereas the number thirteen was considered irregular, transgressing this completeness. There is also a superstition, thought by some to derive from the Last Supper or a Norse myth, that having thirteen people seated at a table will result in the death of one of the diners.[5]
  • Friday has been considered an unlucky day at least since the 14th century's The Canterbury Tales,[3] and many other professions have regarded Friday as an unlucky day to undertake journeys or begin new projects. Black Friday has been associated with stock market crashes and other disasters since the 1800s.[6][9] It has also been suggested that Friday has been considered an unlucky day because, according to Christian scripture and tradition, Jesus was crucified on a Friday. [10]

On the other hand, another theory by author Charles Panati, one of the leading authorities on the subject of "Origins" maintains that the superstition can be traced back to ancient myth:

The actual origin of the superstition, though, appears also to be a tale in Norse mythology. Friday is 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."[11]

Another theory about the origin of the superstition traces the event to the arrest of the legendary Knights Templar. According to one expert:

The Knights Templar were a monastic military order founded in Jerusalem in 1118 C.E., whose mission was to protect Christian pilgrims during the Crusades. Over the next two centuries, the Knights Templar became extraordinarily powerful and wealthy. Threatened by that power and eager to acquire their wealth, King Philip secretly ordered the mass arrest of all the Knights Templar in France on Friday, October 13, 1307 - Friday the 13th.[4]

The connection between the superstition and the Knights Templar was popularized in the 2003 novel The Da Vinci Code, however, some experts think that it is relatively recent and is a modern-day invention.[9][3][8] For example, the superstition is rarely found before the 20th century, when it became extremely common. One author, noting that references are all but nonexistent before 1907 but frequently seen thereafter, has argued that its popularity derives from the publication that year of Thomas W. Lawson's popular novel Friday, the Thirteenth,[12] in which an unscrupulous broker takes advantage of the superstition to create a Wall Street panic on a Friday the 13th.[4] Source

Scorpio (Oct. 24 — Nov. 22)

Your misgivings about a recent decision are not as serious as you now suppose. You are in the process of re-evaluating your relationship to something or someone, part of the process of growing wiser.

Leo (July 23 — Aug. 22)

An overactive imagination can turn wormholes into caverns. All you lack is patience. Just as water erodes rock, your personal power wears away obstacles. Permanent improvement rewards your efforts.

Gemini (May 21 — June 21)

If you really want to win, you need to be passionate and bold. Say what you mean, mean what you say and abandon all thoughts of restraint or of subtle strategy. Success boils down to making enough noise.

Th Full story"

Horoscopes for Friday, March 13
March 13, 2009

Thought for the Day: Venus retrogrades come every 19 months and last about six weeks. Venus turned backward a week ago today, potentially presenting your love life with some interesting challenges.

If today is your birthday: The pace of life will speed up in the coming months. You will meet new people and get involved in exciting new activities. There won't be enough time to dwell on old regrets. Happy birthday to William H. Macy, 59.

Aries (March 21 — April 20)

Someone's interfering nature is causing anxiety. Trust the good intentions of this cosmos. Positive developments will come when the time is right.

Taurus (April 21 — May 20)

Your outlook on an impasse has changed greatly since the recent full moon. Its impact has launched a whole new chapter in the story of your life. A sense of adventure will intensify and propel you forward.

Gemini (May 21 — June 21)

If you really want to win, you need to be passionate and bold. Say what you mean, mean what you say and abandon all thoughts of restraint or of subtle strategy. Success boils down to making enough noise.

Cancer (June 22 — July 22)

Most solutions are fundamentally simple. In fact, the answer you seek is right before you, practically staring you in the face. Once you get over your surprise, you can start profiting from a useful discovery.

Leo (July 23 — Aug. 22)

An overactive imagination can turn wormholes into caverns. All you lack is patience. Just as water erodes rock, your personal power wears away obstacles. Permanent improvement rewards your efforts.

Virgo (Aug. 23 — Sept. 22)

Something is wrong and you know it must be put right, but everything you try seems to miss the mark. You're doing your best and that will prove more than enough to achieve the success you deserve.

Libra (Sept. 23 — Oct. 23)

Aggressively pushing to the front of the queue does not always bring success. You have been bold enough, lately, to concede that in one area of life you've done all you can.

Scorpio (Oct. 24 — Nov. 22)

Your misgivings about a recent decision are not as serious as you now suppose. You are in the process of re-evaluating your relationship to something or someone, part of the process of growing wiser.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23 — Dec. 21)

We tend to assume, since we speak the same language, that we understand what people are saying. Don't waste time trying to unravel the nonsense a certain individual is spouting. In any tongue, it's twisted.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 — Jan. 20)

There are times when it is necessary to get angry to muster the energy needed to get action. Although you may be overestimating the size of a problem, it is giving you the focus to bring about change.

Aquarius (Jan. 21 — Feb. 19)

You are just days away from your next big break. Your entire situation is potentially most fortunate. It's a clear and positive promise from an emphatic sky.

Pisces (Feb. 20 — March 20)

Recent events have energized you and created a sense of adventure. A goal you cherish is likely to be successful. Where you have lacked power, influence and purpose, you will be strong.

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