h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Friday The 13th? - Unlucky For Some? - A16355801
Author: Serephina..'Rocket Queen' Vote for the date of the H2G2 2007 Spring meet at: A16619592 - U191719

Not sure about this one..comments?

Good start

There is a word for the fear of Friday the 13th - I had to google for it, but it turns out that it's 'paraskevidekatriaphobia'

Can't think what off the top of my head, but there have been a few major events on Friday 13ths - including one that should be quite lucky in 2029 http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/13may_2004mn4.htm?friend - maybe you could look into some, or other Researchers might remember?

I might be able to lay my hands on some Friday 13th air crashes, if you think you need them

My dad was born 13th October (same day as Margaret Thatcher, for his sins ) and he would not go out of the house if it fell on a Friday Still doesn't, and he's just turned 79, so it does not fade with time...

Serephina, I was reading through the EGWW thread, there is mention there of the Templars. This is the origin I have always heard of so perhaps it would be good to put something in about that?

Also, I forget which, but there is a NY hotel (Waldorf Astoria?) that does not have a 13th floor - it may well not be the only one either be worth checking that out as an odd detail as well.


W

Many sources give the origin of the Friday the 13th thing as the day that the Templars were all arrested, and accused of heresy. But I'm not inclined to believe that myself - it sounds too much like an urban myth to me.

How old is the fear of Friday the 13th? I suspect it arose in the mid 20th Century, but am not sure.

I'm sure I've read that cruise ships don't have a cabin 13 for this very reason - superstition. Maybe you could look into that?

Like Rich says, it's a start. I'd like to see a great deal more of investigation and research so that the Entry expands into a comprehensive review of the myths that surround the date along with arguments from both sides of the subject. It's an important date for obvious reasons; at the moment I'm left with a few tasters but very little substance and a desire to know more.

Some of what you've written presumes prior knowledge by the reader. I'm not sure exactly what went on at the last supper, if indeed it did. I think you need to be aware of that aspect and accomodate it in your explanations.

My father lives in a block of 16 apartments numbered 1-12 and 14-17.

I thought the myth of Friday 13th specifically, stemmed from the Knights Templar being wiped out across Europe on Friday 13th October - possibly 1506 ??? - that's from memory so not sure about the year. Anyhow - if not killed on the night they were captured and handed over to the Spanish Inquisition - and NOBODY EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISITION!!!

Close, Fizzy - 1307 apparently (see A930205). A little before the Inquisition, I think

Aw - must get this memory of mine upgraded - another 8GB should do it



about that Seraphina - but you know what I was getting at I'm sure.


Thanks Rich

Apparently it was the Episcopal Inquisition and unlike the Spanish Inquisition - some people expected them.

I found a spelling error >>hving, this makes me think there maybe more.

I'll scan it for grammar and spelling errors later, when it's clear that the content is sorted out.

Hi Serephina

Must admit, I'd not heard of the number 13 being referred to as the 'Devil's Dozen'. I've often heard number 13 referred to as the 'baker's dozen' though. The bakers dozen dates back to the 13th Century, when bakers gave customers 13 baked items for the price of 12 to avoid accusations and punishment for short measures, and also baked 13 items when 12 were required to cover any spoilage or mishaps. (more here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker's_dozen [assuming that's correct ])

Emmily

Amusingly enough: in Greece it's Tuesday 13 which is supposed to bring bad luck (so they should suffer tritidekatriaphobia ).

Even though it is actually more likely that some disaster happens on Friday 13 than on, say, Saturday 13 or any other 13. The simple reason behind it is that there are more of them! Not *many* more, I grant you

Unfortunately the book in which the (otherwise terribly tedious) computation was done is not within reach for the moment. It's a book in German called "Neues aus dem Mathematischen Kabinett" by Thiagar Devendran.

The Greek fear of Tuesdays is supposedly because the Byzantium Empire fell to the Turks on a Tuesday (29 May 1453).

Good work

"This entry looks" --> Entry
"with a distrust or even outright fear" --> even an outright fear
"Superstitons involving 13 can be found" --> Superstitions
"Much earlier theories and stories exist though" --> 'However, much earluer theories and stories exist,"
"'Casper' to act as the partys 14th guest" --> party's
"crucified on a friday." --> Friday
"urban myth that in the 1800's" --> 1800s
"HMS Friday was commssioned" --> commissioned
"We have no real reasn" --> reason
"self fullfilling" --> self-fulfilling

"We all know how well that ended up," - Do we now? I'm personally a bit undereducated in this bit of mythology - did it have something to do with chocolate eggs?

Oh and I think most aeroplanes do without a row 13 as well.

Alex

Lots of good information here, Serephina. Will you be making updates soon?

Nominate Flea Market?

Yes, if Serephina has really elvised.