What does "Friday the 13th" mean? Why is it associated for many with something bad and dark? And how much truth is hidden in all the rumors and superstitions associated with this mystical number?
To get to the truth, let's take a short excursion into the history of mankind and look there for information about Friday the 13th. And, believe me, there are a lot of them, and some of them really make you believe in the fatal power of this date. But first things first.
What does Friday the 13th mean today?
Despite the fact that the 21st century is in the yard, people still believe in the existence of mystical forces and mysterious signs. One of the strangest is the superstition that Friday the 13th is a very bad day.
For some reason, people believe that on such days, misfortune follows them on their heels. Therefore, especially superstitious individuals try to abandon all serious matters and stay away from anything that can harm their health. Sometimes it comes to the point of absurdity: especially fearful ones close themselves in their own rooms and refuse to contact the outside world.
Naturally, most people don't do that, because it's stupid. And yet the fact remains: with the arrival of Friday, the 13th, here and there you can hear whispered stories about mysterious cases associated with this day.
But when did it start? Who first began to consider this day dark? And why did it happen? In order to understand this, let's find out what Friday the 13th means in the understanding of our distant ancestors.
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Mystical numbers in antiquity
The ancient Greeks were obsessed with numbers, which is probably why they became the forefathers of many geometric theories. In particular, they believed that 12 is the ideal number that symbolizes order and harmony. But the number 13, on the contrary, was bad, since its existence upset the balance.
As for Friday, it was not considered dark or unlucky. Moreover, only on this day of the week was it allowed to hold celebrations in honor of the goddess Athena. Therefore, for the Greeks, Friday was more a solemn date than a harbinger of misfortune.
The beliefs of our ancestors
If everything is clear with the Greeks, then what does Friday, the 13th, mean for the Slavs? It so happened that for our ancestors this day of the week was sacred. It was on him that the most important celebrations and ceremonies of those times fell.
The Slavs believed that the last Friday of the month is the day of the Mother of the World. Therefore, with her arrival, all women in Russia had an after-hour day off. They could do nothing and just enjoy the world around them.
Also, the Slavs had a special date: "thirteenth" Friday of the year. It was calculated according to the lunar calendar and was a very important religious event. After all, it was on this day that ceremonies were carried out aimed at strengthening the family. At the same time, both women and men took part in the celebration.
So, the girls prayed to the goddess of fertility that she would give them her patronage. As for the guys, they competed with each other in strength and endurance. And the ladies standing nearby could watch them and choose a worthy betrothed.
The sad fate of the Templars
As for the notoriety, according to scientists, it stuck to this day at the beginning of the XIV century, during the reign of Philip IV. To be more precise, after he dealt with the Order of the Knights Templar.
This happened due to the fact that the holy Order began to acquire too much power. Numerous crusades helped the knights acquire lands that brought huge profits. And where there is money, there is an opportunity to rule others, including courtiers and even kings.
This order of things suited many monarchs, but not Philip IV, popularly called the Beautiful. He did not want to share his power with the holy army, and therefore decides to get rid of them. On October 13, 1307, he issues a decree: arrest all the Templars, and transfer their property to the state.
A little later, most of the prisoners were burned at the stake as heretics and criminals of the faith. At the same time, the massacre fell on Friday the 13th. That is why it will be remembered for a long time as a bloody date.
Christian myths
The Catholic Church added even more fuel to the fire by expressing their opinion on what Friday the 13th means. This number, in their opinion, has been famous for its bad influence on people since the beginning of time. So, it was on this day that Adam and Eve were expelled from paradise, and sin fell on all people. In addition, on Friday, the 13th, Cain killed Abel, forever staining this date with human blood.
Also, many troubles brought the unfortunate number to Jesus Christ. Firstly, according to some reports, he was crucified on Friday the 13th, which made this day bad in the eyes of his followers. Secondly, 13 people were present at the last supper, which became the last for the savior. These may be mere coincidences, but many see them as bad omens.
That is why, if a Christian is asked: “What does Friday, 13 mean?”, He will most likely answer that this is a devil's day. And, taking into account all of the above, it will be very difficult to convince him otherwise.
Witches and witchcraft
Now let's talk about what Friday the 13th means to Satanists and witches. After all, if you think about it, this is the best time for dark spells and spells. Indeed, according to legend, it is on this day that all witches gather together. The Great Sabbath is what Friday the 13th means. The full moon that falls on this date only enhances its significance for dark sorceresses and sorcerers.
What's going on at such a Sabbath? If you believe the stories of occultists, then such magical meetings are held at various places where the dark force emerges. For example, it could be a graveyard, an old forest, or an old battlefield. According to the laws of the Sabbath, 12 witches conduct it, and their 13 guests are the devil himself, who appears in the form of a goat or a man with a goat's head.
Together they dance in a wild, shameless dance, thereby showing their love for sin and debauchery. A little later, an orgy begins, during which the wicked endows the witches with his power. Then everyone scatters to their homes in order to continue to do evil and wreak havoc.
As for the Satanists, they also love Friday the 13th. Even if they do not suit the sabbaths, they still practice dark magic.
Dark dates associated with Friday the 13th
Over the long history of mankind, there have been more than one hundred mysterious cases associated with this fateful date. Unfortunately, it is impossible to list them all, so let's focus on only the most significant of them:
- So, on October 13, 1066, the last Anglo-Saxon king, Harold II, refused the offer of the Normans to surrender the kingdom. As a result, his army still lost the Battle of Hastings, and the monarch himself died at the hands of enemies.
- In 1791, the British authorities decided to dispel mystical rumors about Friday the 13th. To do this, they built a new ship, which they named after the dark date. Moreover, he went to sea just the same on Friday the 13th. Alas, their hopes were dashed, as the ship disappeared forever in the vast expanses of the ocean.
- This date was also unlucky for the great gangster Al Capone. After all, it was on Friday that he was arrested by the Chicago police.
- The famous American rapper Tupac Shakur has always been famous for his extraordinary success. Throughout his career, he has successfully avoided repeated attempts on his life. Only on September 13, 1996, luck let him down, and the killer's bullet nevertheless overtook Shakur.
Popularization of the myth
Today, almost everyone on the planet knows what Friday the 13th means. If you do not take into account the mystical beginning of this myth, then a completely logical question arises: "How did it happen that everyone considers this day to be bad?"
And the fault is television, which has repeatedly raised the topic of mysticism and witchcraft on its TV shows and films. That only is the American horror film called "Friday the 13th", which reveals the life of a maniac psychopath.
Psychics and fortune-tellers also made a lot of noise. They constantly reassure their clients that Friday the 13th is truly a dark day. Some clergymen also join their opinion, which is true, the official church assures: there is nothing wrong with this date.
Famous denial of the Black Friday myth
As soon as rumors spread that Friday the 13th was an unlucky number, there were those who wanted to refute them. And if in the case of the British ship the experiment turned out to be a failure, then our next hero achieved his goal.
It all began with the fact that a certain William Fowler decided to found a club, dispelling various mystical rumors and fictions. Naturally, such an organization and the name should be appropriate. And therefore, William, without thinking twice, calls him the "Club of Thirteen", because exactly so many people are included in it. Moreover, the official opening is scheduled for Friday, January 13, 1881.
Since the main task of the club was to destroy myths, they did everything possible to do it. For example, they dined at a table with salt sprinkled on it, or walked through the door under the jamb. And here's what pleases: for the entire existence of the club, nothing bad has happened to its members.
Author: Dmitry Radchuk