Friday the 13th: Paranormal or Paranoia?

Hello to everyone and Happy Friday the 13^th. There are a number of different theories as to why Friday the 13^th was considered to be unlucky. In an article written by Claire Suddath in Time U.S on February 13^th, 2009, you betcha it was a Friday.  Some historians have narrowed down the unlucky number 13 to the 13 members of the last supper. To those who are not familiar with the last supper. This was a major part of the history of Jesus Christ, leading up to the crucifixion.  Neither Judas nor Jesus Christ fared well in this biblical telling. Just to clarify, Judas was listed as the 13^th member to arrive.

Suddath further explains how the ancient Babylonians omit the number 13 out of the Code of Hammurabi. Displaying that as far back as Babylonian times the number 13 was out casted.  This however was independent of Friday until later on in the 20^th century. Suddath tells of a stock broker in 1907 named Thomas Lawson who wrote a book called Friday the 13^th which was about a malevolent business man who was on a relentless quest to crash the stock market on the day deemed to be the unluckiest day of the month which Lawson just so happened to put on the Friday. This book sold extremely well and later on in 1916 went on to become a feature length film.

Another theory written in National Geographic News on August 12, 2004, John Roach spoke to folk historian Donald Dossey. The research of Dossey traced the origins of Friday the 13^th to the Norse Gods. Dossey explained the myth that 12 Norse Gods were having dinner in Valhalla. Valhalla was considered Norse Heaven. Loki the God of mischief who was not invited to the dinner decided to crash the party. By showing up at the party that made Loki guest number 13 and this caused a major problem at the party. Loki arranged for Hoder, the blind God of darkness, to shoot another God, Balder, God of Beauty, Joy, and Gladness with a mistletoe tipped arrow. The arrow killed Balder. This plunged the world into darkness and the people mourned the loss of Balder making this day an ominous day from then on. The number 13 in this theory was forever considered unlucky.

Now that I have given a few brief and summarized histories of this historically unlucky day, let’s talk paranormal. We know this day is considered bad luck throughout numerous cultures for a number of different reasons and theories aside from what I have written above.  Is there a link? Is this bad luck because of a mass paranoia brought about from centuries of superstition? Or maybe, just maybe this bad luck stems from something more. Could there be some dark or negative force that for whatever reason finds empowerment on this day to cause calamity among the living. I am not saying that this is true, nor am I even saying that I believe in the misfortunes of Friday the 13^th. I am just opening up thoughts and ideas as to what this could all be about. We can go through the internet and find pages upon pages about the histories of the day. However,  as the saying goes,  “I think therefore I am”. You think it, and so it must be. Therefore, what do you think? Is this day a supernatural black hole, or is it all a bunch of hokum. 

I personally think that regardless of the day we make our own fate. The thought of luck is just to give us that extra bit of hope when we embark on a difficult task. I ask for luck and hope for luck, but ultimately I know that if I want to achieve something, it is up to me to work hard and make it happen. Luck won’t do that for me.

Where do you stand on this? Friday the 13^th, fact or fiction?

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