The Fear of 13
October is the Halloween month. Friday the 13th falls under October. Have you heard about ‘’ Friday the 13th’’?
Just like walking under a ladder, crossing paths with a black cat, or breaking a mirror, many people hold fast to the belief that Friday the 13th brings bad luck. Though it’s uncertain exactly when this particular tradition began, negative superstitions have swirled around the countries that believe it.
Western cultures or Countries who practice Christianity believe in this superstition. But, historically associated the number 12 with completeness (there are 12 days of Christmas, 12 months and zodiac signs, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 gods of Olympus, and 12 tribes of Israel, just to name a few examples), its successor 13 has a long history asa sign of bad luck . According to biblical tradition, 13 guests attended the Last Supper, held on Maundy Thursday, including Jesus and his 12 apostles (one of whom, Judas, betrayed him). The next day, of course, was Good Friday, the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. The seating arrangement at the Last Supper is believed to have given rise to a longstanding Christian superstition that having 13 guests at a table was a bad omen—specifically, that it was courting death.
Like in the Philippines, we do believe that the number 13 is bad luck. For example, buildings in the Philippines don`t have a 13th floor. (Literally not the 13th floor we just skip the floor numbering from 12 then next is the 14th floor.) There are a lot of superstitions lies beneath the 13th of Friday.
Do you believe in Friday the 13th? Do you believe in superstitions?
Advance Happy Halloween.
