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

...and never believe stories about boats named Friday:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/6896203.stm

Here's a little section out of Jerome K Jerome's "Diary of a Pilgrimage", published in about 1891. Note that the superstition is about travelling on a Friday, but doesn't mention the 13th at all.

"Well," he said, "it is a good two days' journey. I propose to
start on Friday."

"Is not Friday rather an unlucky day to start on?" I suggested.

"Oh, good gracious!" he retorted quite sharply, "what rubbish next?
As if the affairs of Europe were going to be arranged by Providence
according to whether you and I start for an excursion on a Thursday
or a Friday!"

He said he was surprised that a man who could be so sensible,
occasionally, as myself, could have patience to even think of such
old-womanish nonsense. He said that years ago, when he was a silly
boy, he used to pay attention to this foolish superstition himself,
and would never upon any consideration start for a trip upon a
Friday.

But, one year, he was compelled to do so. It was a case of either
starting on a Friday or not going at all, and he determined to
chance it.

He went, prepared for and expecting a series of accidents and
misfortunes. To return home alive was the only bit of pleasure he
hoped for from that trip.

As it turned out, however, he had never had a more enjoyable holiday
in his life before. The whole event was a tremendous success.

And after that, he had made up his mind to ALWAYS start on a Friday;
and he always did, and always had a good time.

He said that he would never, upon any consideration, start for a
trip upon any other day but a Friday now. It was so absurd, this
superstition about Friday.

Excellent Gnomon, I'd not read that before

Well, look, what day is it today?

Any chance of attending to the points made throughout PR Serephina?

Hope you're better now, or on the mend at least

The story about the Templars and Friday 13th was in the Da Vinci Code. Now, I don't know if this makes it more or less likely to be true, but maybe it could be mentioned in the entry as many people will have seen the film or read the book and might have picked up on this. I know I looked for a mention of it in the entry before reading this thread. It could just be included as something mentioned in the Da Vinci Code and that it's unknown whether it's true or not.

If by "it's unknown whether it is true or not" you mean "we are 99.99% sure it is not true", then OK.

Well, whatever. I just think it's something a lot of people will have heard of, and so it deserves a mention.

Are you out there Serephina? If not, perhaps this should either be returned to Entry, or into the Flea Market?

Suggest Flea Market

Seconded

GB
Scout

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