Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia

Subject: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: GUEST,Fear Friday the 13th
Date: 11 May 05 - 06:02 PM

Got fears, superstitions, or just plain bad luck? Every culture seems to have their own unique answers to these unreasonable maladies. Some of the incantaions and voodoo to lift these jinxes or hexes are more extreme than others. Does crossing a blacks cat's path give you the creeps? Do you avoid walking under ladders, or stepping on cracks? How often do you throw salt over your shoulder? Which shoulder do you use? Have you got any personal or regional fears and cures that you can share?

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: PoppaGator
Date: 11 May 05 - 06:32 PM

I'm not normally superstitious about Friday the 13th or anything else. However, I have a dental clinic appointment this Friday and I'm a bit apprehensive about it ~ the "bad luck" date doesn't help matters any!

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Sorcha
Date: 11 May 05 - 07:14 PM

I am not really sure I 'belive'...but I don't walk under ladders, I cruch egg shells, throw salt over my left shoulder, try not to step on cracks....but Friday 13th doesn't bother me at all. Hey, better to be safe than sorry....MUST be a reason for most of this stuff.

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 May 05 - 05:40 AM

That's funny Popp.. Limpit is going to the dentist on Friday too!

I don't have any problem with Friday 13th (except those dreadful films), or many other superstitions... but I do poke a hole in boiled egg shells so that witches can't use them for boats. Oddly though, it was never done to raw egg shells...

LTS

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Wolfgang
Date: 12 May 05 - 05:48 AM

Ankomme Freitag den 13. (R. Mey)

Just to add a link to a song. It is titled

'Arriving Friday the 13th...'

and tells what can go wrong a such a day.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 12 May 05 - 06:03 AM

A bit of useless info: The (Greek) term "paraskevidekatriaphobia" is a much later one, inelegantly cobbled together. The original, ancient Greek term, is "triskedekaphobia" (rolls off the tongue easier too), meaning simply "fear of thirteen".

"Paraskevi" (Friday)is a much later addition, in Christian times, and simply hooks up the superstition of the number thirteen with the Good Friday element (Christ's crucifixion). In Greece it is Tuesday that has become linked with it instead, commemorating the fall of Konstantinople and the ending of the Byzantine empire oon Tuesday 13th May 1453.

But triskedekaphobia is much, much older than that. Though many attempt to reason its existence based on latter-day elements (thirteen sat down to eat at the Last Supper, etc etc), the term and its origins are lost in the distant undocumented past.

There - you're all much better informed now!

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Wolfgang
Date: 12 May 05 - 08:20 AM

But if you have difficulties remembering that word's spelling you can also use friggatriskaidekaphobia.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 May 05 - 09:21 AM

I'm not superstitious, touch wood...

I thought the Friday the 13th superstition was to do with the date all the Templars were rounded up and executed. After a fair trial of course. Or is that just a Dan Brown-ism?

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: open mike
Date: 12 May 05 - 12:22 PM

There is a contra dance caller who has invented a dance called
Triskadeccaphobia!!

Fear Triskadeccaphobia!!

watch out tomorrow...

Sorcah..is that the reason you crush egg shells? (witches boats?)

What about a black cat crossing your path? broken Mirrors?

and a black crow flying over you or to your left has some

significance, as i recall from Carlos Castaneda,

in the Yaqui Way of Knowledge.

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Michael
Date: 12 May 05 - 12:38 PM

I've never understood the Friday 13th thing;
Friday 13th is purely manmade and only applies to one calendar which has been meddled with quite a few times over the years.
If you believe that SOMTHING is in control of Life, the Universe and everything and it wanted to create a 'bad' day, then it would make it related it to somthing in its calendar, like full moon Solstice or whatever, not to somthing created by mere mortals.
Wouldn't it?
Mike

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: fretless
Date: 12 May 05 - 01:19 PM

Gee, Mike. I figure that if there's something "in control of life" out there, he/she/it can chose to make our lives miserable any time he/she/it wants, including the 13th day of the month when it falls on a Friday. But I suppose that's up to he/she/it, not me.
And efcharisto or thanks to El Greco for the history and Greek lesson. Triskaidekaphobia is how I always heard it, too. As for origins, I don't remember 13 being flagged in ancient Greek as a bad luck or ill-omened number. But it's been a while since I was reading that stuff.

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Raedwulf
Date: 12 May 05 - 01:22 PM

Now somewhere (& I can't for the life of me remember where) I have read that the F13 notion is quite recent. Whilst Friday has often been considered an unlucky day (especially, a bad day for ships to set sail), the Norse, for example, considered it a lucky day to get married.

As for thirteen, in medieval times it was considered lucky to set a hen to sit on 13 eggs, so that's hardly unequivocal either! The junction of the two 'unlucky' dates, as far as I recall, was stitched together around the turn of the 19th/20thC. But I'll be damned if I can remember where I read it (though it wasn't in Brewer's)!

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: PoppaGator
Date: 12 May 05 - 02:18 PM

I, too, had only ever encountered the "tris..."-word in regard to fear-of-Friday-the-13th; I'd never seen the "para.."-word until now.

I understand and agree with Michael's opinion that a calendar date like Friday the 13th is too artificial ("man-made") to possibly mean anything on a supernatural plane. But then again, since I don't really believe any of this stuff anyway, I don't supoe my opinion counts for much...

Incidentally, the reason I've always heard for the association of the number 13 with bad luck is that there were 13 people present at the Last Supper (Jesus plus 12 apostles). Insofar as this might be true, at least for some European/Christian cultures, the association with Friday probably dates all the way back to the origins of the "13" superstition, Friday being the day of the Crucifixion.

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 May 05 - 03:01 PM

And you get post No. 13!!!

LTS

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: fretless
Date: 12 May 05 - 04:49 PM

Good counting, Liz!

Jack the Ripper- 13 letters
John Wayne Gacy- 13 letters
Charles Manson- 13 letters
Jeffrey Dahmer- 13 letters
Theodore ( Ted ) Bundy- 13 letters

Were any of them born/died on a Friday?

This is so much fun!

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Ironmule
Date: 12 May 05 - 07:28 PM

While I ordinarily have no superstitous feelings at all, when my dog raced after a rabbit and dragged me off the porch last year, I had a strange premonition in mid air that it was going to hurt when I hit the concrete driveway.

I was right. $486 and some stitches later I was OK.


My dog? She wagged her tail and grinned at me. She does wish I would be more helpful than hindrance when she wants to catch little critters.

Now that I know my premonitions can come true, I'm hoping for one that I've won the lottery, but I could probably help the process by buying a ticket.


Jeff Smith

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: GUEST,Fear Friday the 13th
Date: 12 May 05 - 07:44 PM

Brave and educational posts one and all, but I see that there are few who have dared to share their personal superstitions. Eggs shells turn to witches boats? I had not heard that one. Could the question be too revealing to answer? Perhaps. How about sharing some that you've heard about within the region that you are from? There seem to be many ways to jinx or hex yourself in Japan.

What about recurring dreams? Do they have significance, or is it simply superstitious to believe in them and allow them to guide or sway your decision making, as someone who chooses to avoid walking under that ladder?

Wolfgang, that link did not get me to the lyrics.

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 May 05 - 10:47 PM

Shoes on the table - Nana Sullivan would have a fit. Makes sense if you think about it but I can't even put new shoes in a box and a bag on the table.

I have never learned to whistle. My brothers were forbidden to teach me. "The crow of a hen and the whistle of a woman wakes the devil from his lair" - Nana Sullivan.

Guests NEVER go in the front door and out the back. They take good luck with them. You guessed it - Nana Sullivan.

Never give a knife without a coin. It cuts the blade and prevents injury - Nana.

Never give a wallet or purse without a coin - bad luck, Nana Sullivan.

Feel a shiver down your back? Someone is walking on your grave. - Nana.

Hit your mother? That hand will rise from the grave when you are buried and everyone will know.- Nana. My cat Fred is not impressed by the vision of his little paws forced to endure rain and snow and sleet for scratching me or Alice. SIGH. It worked on me.

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Sorcha
Date: 12 May 05 - 11:17 PM

open mike, sorta like. It keeps the Wee Folk from bedding down in them.
Nothing yet said about breaking mirrors....
The 13th would have been my mum's 76th BD....

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 12 May 05 - 11:32 PM

Sorry - don't have any. My family always went out of its way to make the point that we are not superstitious.I have walked under ladders, ignore black cats on my left, greeted priests warmly first thing in the morning, had normal days on the 13th (be it Tuesday or Friday), new shoes on the table etc (scared Vanessa witless a couple of times).

Boring, aren't I...

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 May 05 - 03:27 AM

I used to put shoes on the table too until I mistakenly put a pair there that had been tracked through doggie doos... Superstition or common sense, I don't do it now!

I walk under ladders, have no particular feelings about black cats (but will diligently look for the second magpie and greet them every time) and have knives piled higgledy piggeldy in the drawer.

Witches are well known for not being able to cross moving water (it carries the magic away) and eggshells are their only way over. That's why they should be crushed.

LTS

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Muttley
Date: 13 May 05 - 03:38 AM

I LOVE this stuff !!!

Here are a couple of superstitions explained for those who are that way inclined (and a couple of humourous interpretations to go with them)

As far as Friday the 13th goes Poppagator nailed it correctly - 13 at the Last Supper and the Crucifixion on a friday.

Others like DROPPING SALT or BREAKING A MIRROR being worth 7 years bad luck: This arose from a very practical interpretation. Many hundreds of years ago when these two were propagated both salt and 'glass' mirrors were luxury items (especially the mirrors). To drop and lose either was a fairly significant disaster in that earning the money to replace it would take a substantial amount of time to do and many years to "catch up" financially as a result. In the case of the mirror it was quite likely that it may NEVER be replaced as it was just TOO expensive to do so - a polished metal one (though still quite expensive) was infinitely more affordable - though not as prestigious. Salt, too was a VERY expensive commodity as it had to be mined (they hadn't realised all that salt was there for the taking in the ocean.)

Another one mentioned was WALKING UNDER A LADDER: This stemmed from an old practice of using a ladder as a gallows. If a condemned prisoner was required to walk beneath a ladder (usually supported on tall trestles or between close-together-buildings etc it meant he was condemned to die and was doing so in order to be hanged. I'd reckon THAT kind of luck would fairly screw up your day!

Humourous ones: Many years ago I read a "Mad Magazine" article on superstitions where they showed consequences:

"A Black Cat Crosses Your Path" was accompanied by a weaponless adventurer walking along a jungle path when a bloody BIG black panther stalks out of the undergrowth ahead of him!

"Don't drop salt": was a cartoon of a worker in a Russian salt mine doing so with a bag of salt in front of an armed guard - this one was accompanied by the remedy "Toss Some Of The Salt Over Your Left Shoulder" - the second cartoon showed the hapless peasant / worker tossing the whole bag over his shoulder and "K.O.-ing" the advancing guard!

BTW - the tossing the salt over the shoulder ONLY works if you spill the salt - and you MUST use the salt you spilled - and it MUST be over the LEFT shoulder as that is where the Devil lurks whispering foul deeds into your ear and suggestions to do evil. That you might curse God was a real possibility and the Devil would encourage that as a result of your misfortune. So you tossed the salt over your left shoulder where the Devil is lurking and thus BLIBD him so he cannot whisper in your ear or influence you further as he cannot see what you are doing or where you go.

Allied to this is the "God Bless You" when you sneeze. This was to prevent the Devil from possessing your body. It was believed that the force of a sneeze was strong enough to expel your soul from your body for a short time leaving you temporarily defenceless against Blandishments or even outright posesseion by Satan. Thus a passer-by would "Bless You" to basically, cover you until your soul was recovered enough from being 'sneezed out' to re-enter your body and continue protecting you!

Anyway - that was fun

Mutt

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 13 May 05 - 04:31 AM

Ironmule, I've calculated that my odds of winning the lottery are not significantly improved by buying a ticket. That is to say, I'm about as likely to find or be given a winning ticket as I am to buy one.

My lucky number has always been 13. It has something to do with my birthday being 1/12 (or 12/1 for you unAmericans) and 1 + 12 = 13, all the digits of my birthday (1/12/54) adding up to 13, and the first letter of my name being the 13th letter of the alphabet. Plus I just liked being ornery. When I was in the National Spelling Bee at age 12, I came in 13th. Whereupon my dad said to me, "Too bad your lucky number wasn't 1!"

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: gnomad
Date: 13 May 05 - 05:23 AM

A fisherman's wife won't do laundry on sailing day (not around the R.Humber anyway) for fear of washing her husband away.

I think it's unlucky to be superstitious.

Subject: BS: Paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: bobad
Date: 13 May 05 - 10:05 AM

Happy Friday the 13th. everyone.

Subject: RE: BS: Paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Davetnova
Date: 13 May 05 - 10:14 AM

So far.

Subject: RE: BS: Paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: JennyO
Date: 13 May 05 - 10:39 AM

Friday the 13th is over, here in Oz - it's just after 12.30 and I'm about to go to bed. Had a nice day at my son's place looking after my grandson Max while he and my daughter-in-law went out to a nice restaurant for their wedding anniversary. No bad luck around here!

I'm not superstitious - and am not at all worried about the two black cats that currently own me either.

Jenny

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Raedwulf
Date: 13 May 05 - 12:59 PM

Muttley - Nice, but I don't entirely buy any of those explanations. The F13 theory is certainly the most common one, & I think was favoured by my unrememberable source, but the key thing is that it is definitely a Victorianism. It doesn't go back very far at all, for a superstition.

Dropping salt bringing bad luck is a new one on me (throw it over your shoulder, well known). Whilst salt was sufficiently costly to have generated "below the salt" as a phrase, I can't see why seven years bad luck might ensue. It wasn't *that* expensive.

Similarly, whilst glass mirrors would have been more expensive (& more breakable) than their more common polished metal counterparts, I'm dubious about this simple correlation between expense & luck. There were plenty of breakable & expensive items around (including glassware of types other than a mirror), so why only/specifically a mirror?

Both salt & mirrors are considered to have magical properties. I suspect any 'bad luck' associations are more bound up with such ideas as those, rather than a simple matter of cash.

"Bless you" (what's the literal translation of the German "Gesundheit"?) I always understood to be intended to drive out the devils (minor & plural) causing you to sneeze, rather than to repel the just ejected Devil (major & singular).

The trouble with explanations of things like this is that they're often generated by people with more imagination than knowledge, & then they they become self-perpetuating because they sound plausible. I was once sent a page of 'explanations' (the only one I can remember was the alleged origin of the word threshold) & debunked half of them in about 15 minutes, mostly by simply referring to a decent dictionary!

Subject: RE: BS: Paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Azizi
Date: 13 May 05 - 01:17 PM

See this excerpt on Friday the 13th:

It's strange how society has come to accept "superstition" so plainly and unquestioning. Go to every hotel in the States and there is almost never a floor with the number 13 in it. However, if you should venture to a hotel in Italy, you will indeed find that 13 is not skipped over. In fact, a gold charm of the number is given to Italian infants to ensure good luck and prosperity in their developing life. Why then, is there such suspicion surrounding 13? Furthermore, ever wonder what makes Friday the 13th so "evil"? (Note: Friday the 13th was considered a day of bad luck and evil long before the movies came out!)

There are various theories surrounding 13. Since Christianity has had a extremely large influence on all societies as a whole, we shall look there first. At the "Final Supper" or "Last Supper" (whoever you chose to term it) there were 13 guests. Some believe Jesus to be the 13th at feast, occurring just before he was Crucified. This is a largely debatable theory, however. How does one know where to start counting? Many chose to go by the painting "The Last Supper," forgetting that this is an artist's interpretation of an event he did not attend. The painting depicts the disciples and Jesus at a table, but evidence suggests that the last supper was not conducted at a table. Rather the participants were seated on the ground where it was cooler. (The climate in Israel, at that time, suggests they would have stayed on the ground to keep cool.) Furthermore, where to start counting (when assuming the picture is accurate)? If one started with Judas, Jesus became the 13th guest. Conversely, if the count began at Jesus, it was indeed Judas who was 13. Both options would contribute to the mystique surrounding 13: Jesus, for he was killed soon after the feast, Judas for he was the betrayer of Jesus."

-snip-

Here's more from that website: Friday the 13th

Subject: RE: BS: Paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Mr Red
Date: 13 May 05 - 01:22 PM

I'm not superstitious - think it is unlucky to be.

And I don't recognise the ersatz Greek expression either.

So what is the nominative for a four-leaf clover collector.

quatrafoiliumeripensophile?

Subject: RE: BS: Paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Azizi
Date: 13 May 05 - 01:24 PM

And how the heck do you say "paraskevidekatriaphobia"?
I just learned what is means. See this excerpt:

"Paraskevidekatriaphobics — people afflicted with a morbid, irrational fear of Friday the 13th — are no doubt pricking up their ears just now, buoyed by evidence that their terror may not be so irrational after all. But it's unwise to take solace in a single scientific study (the only one of its kind, so far as I know), especially one so peculiar. I suspect it has more to teach us about human psychology than it does about any particular date on the calendar.

The Most Widespread Superstition

The sixth day of the week and the number 13 both have foreboding reputations said to date from ancient times. Their inevitable conjunction from one to three times a year portends more misfortune than some credulous minds can bear. Folklorists say it's probably the most widespread superstition in the United States: some people won't go to work on Friday the 13th; some won't eat in restaurants; many wouldn't think of setting a wedding on the date.

How many Americans at the turn of the millennium still suffer from this condition? According to Dr. Donald Dossey, a psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of phobias and coiner of the term "paraskevidekatriaphobia," the figure may be as high as 21 million. If he's right, eight percent of Americans are still in the grips of a very old superstition.

Exactly how old is difficult to say, because determining the origins of superstitions is an imprecise science, at best. In fact, it's mostly guesswork."

Click
Urban Legends: #13 for more.

Subject: RE: BS: Paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Azizi
Date: 13 May 05 - 01:47 PM

"I'm not superstitious - think it is unlucky to be."

That was a good one, Mr. Red!

****

And personally, I have no problems with the number 13 as 'numerologically' speaking number 13 adds up to the number 4 [1+3=4]and 4 is half of 8 and I consider all numbers that add up to number 8 to be lucky for me but especially number 17.

And, BTW, I don't consider myself to be at all supersitious. I like to think that I'm in tune with the Force.

And may the Force be with you, too..

Ah! The number two-Now that's another number that I'd like to talk about too-but it would be off subject so I won't go there this time-but maybe at 2PM.

Naw. I got other things to do -especially since a 'Catter {whose name I won't mention but it starts with a "J" and she's married to a 'Catter whose name starts with a "K"} told me the other day that I needed to get a life.

So I'm outta here, lookin for life.




Ms. Azizi

Subject: RE: BS: Paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Azizi
Date: 13 May 05 - 01:52 PM

Oops! I forgot to add :O) after my comment about the comment made by Jac-Oops again!

And as I prepare to go off searching for life, I can be heard chanting:

            "The good I seek is seeking me".

Subject: RE: BS: Paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 13 May 05 - 02:35 PM

Friday the 13th? It's Friday already? Ariiiiiiiiiiight!!! Happy hour, here i come!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Alba
Date: 13 May 05 - 02:43 PM

See it was lucky for you Blissy...:>) have a couple or 13 for me would ya..lol
Jude

Subject: RE: BS: Paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 13 May 05 - 02:49 PM

Hehehe, i will indeed!

Subject: RE: BS: Paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: GUEST,Skip
Date: 13 May 05 - 03:42 PM

See it from my point of view!
Born Friday 13th, left handed (sinister), out of wedlock (lines on a tie go "the other way"), married April 1st.
What chance have I got?

Subject: RE: BS: Paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: frogprince
Date: 13 May 05 - 03:54 PM

I definitely remember when I first became aware of Friday the 13th. I was in early grade school, and it was winter. Got up for breakfast and one or the other of the family mentioned the date; I asked what that meant, and was told about the bad luck thing. Moments afterward I stepped out on the front porch, stepped on a spot of ice, turned a near somersault and damn near killed myself.

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Muttley
Date: 13 May 05 - 09:06 PM

RAEDWULF: I suggest you read an excellent reference book called "SUPERSTITIONS: The Book of Ancient Lore" by Peter Lorie (not the actor - that's spelled Lorrie" - 2 'r's'!).

It covers the glass mirror / salt / sneezing thing quite comprehensively - and I quoted correctly. "Superstitions" is published by Simon & Schuster and its ISBN is 0-671-71141-5.

So, in short - I quoted correctly. BTW: this volume is also in the University library at bot Monash and LaTrobe Uni's here in Melbourne (or it was about 5 or 6 years ago when I was there doing my Masters)

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: susu
Date: 13 May 05 - 10:05 PM

FYI - Paraskevidekatriaphobia is a word just recently coined in modern psychology, the early 90's by Dr. Donald E. Dossey, an American psychotherapist specialising in phobias and stress management, who reputedly claimed that when someone was able to pronounce the word they were cured! The term is based on the Greek words paraskevi ('Friday') and dekatria ('thirteen') with -phobia as a suffix to indicate 'fear'. Triskaidekaphobia, coined in the early twentieth century to refer to fear of the number thirteen generally, but often also associated with fear of Friday the 13th. And friggatriskaidekaphobia, frigga being an ancient Scandinavian goddess associated with witchcraft and Friday as the witches' sabbath.

For those of you who have seen National Treasure you may already know this...
In the Western world, the superstition linking Friday the 13th with being unlucky is primarily associated with the final Grand Master of the Knights Templar, Jacques Demolay, and the date of Friday, October the 13th, 1307 AD. In 1099 AD the Roman Catholic Church through the now infamous bloody religious wars of the Christian Crusades regained control over the holy city of Jerusalem. The land surrounding Jerusalem were still in the hands of the Moslems. According to traditional versions of the story, a warrior order of the Roman Catholic Church eventually banded together that was (allegedly) for purposes of protecting Christian travelers on their way to the holy city of Jerusalem. The warrior order was officially recognized by the Roman Catholic Church in 1118 AD, and they were at that time provided with a headquarters building located on Mount Moriah. This building was located on a site traditionally thought to be the former Temple of King Solomon. Thus, the warrior order became known as the Knights of the Temple, or the Knights Templar.

To make a very long (but incredibly interesting) story short, Jacques Demolay became the Grand Master of the Knights Templar in around 1293 AD During the two hundred years of their existence within the Roman Catholic Church, the Knights Templar had grown into a rather rich and powerful political force to be reckoned with. During Demolay's stay in office as Grand Master, the Templars had increasingly grown in disfavor with the current pope, Pope Clement V, and with the King of France, Phillip the Fair.

In 1307 AD the pope and the king arranged for the Templars to meet with them for a "friendly" convocation in Paris, France. Instead, Grand Master Jacques Demolay was arrested on Friday, October the 13th, 1307 AD. Seven years later, in 1314 AD, Jacques DeMolay was burned at the stake for the crime of church heresy. Legend continues on that before Demolay died - he predicted to the king and pope that he would meet them both in heaven within the next year. Fact is... the king and the pope did die in the year 1314 AD.

Ther you go guys! Happy Friday 13th. BTW... I hit that cow two weeks ago on a friday but not the 13th of course, more unlucky for the cow though. Susu

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Stephen R.
Date: 14 May 05 - 01:11 AM

The "Paraskevi" part is indeed a later addition; it became the word for "Friday" (replacing a simple "sixth day") because that's what it's called in the Greek Bible. It means "preparation" (specifically for the Sabbath--the day when you had to get the meals ready, do anything that required walking farther than the permitted "Sabbath journey," etc.

Last year's thread on the Bulgarian icons, some may recall, included that question about St Petka, which is a nickname for St Paraskevi--there are several saints by that name.

Stephen

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: GUEST
Date: 16 May 05 - 09:31 AM

You don't have to crush the eggshells, just make a hole in the bottom.

When my twins started school they were very scared about what might happen to them on "Bad Friday". HAs anyone else heard Friday 13th called that?

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: DMcG
Date: 16 May 05 - 11:30 AM

Well, if you want to split hairs, the bible does not necessarily say there were 13 at the last supper. According to the King James version, for example "[Jesus asked] Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him". Notice that it initially says disciples and then later says the 12 sat with him. A perfectly reasonable interpretation is that there were more than 12 disciples present including all twelve apostles....

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 May 05 - 07:54 PM

I believe in The Farce.

May The Farce be with you!

Subject: RE: Folklore: paraskevidekatriaphobia
From: Raedwulf
Date: 18 May 05 - 04:57 PM

Muttley: So, in short - I quoted correctly - did I suggest you didn't? No. I said that I have heard other explanations & have reason to doubt the interesting ones you were kind enough to post. The fact that what you're quoting is in a book in university libraries isn't concrete proof. I wasn't having a go, I'm just not convinced.

But I'll try to lay hands on that book sometime...

Regards,

R