If you ever get the chance, listen to Lene Lovich's song, Lucky Number, on her 1978 Stateless LP. It's a quirky little pop number that is quite catchy. 13 is considered an unlucky number and Friday the 13th is viewed as a day of bad luck. On this Friday the 13th, I thought I'd share some trivia about this day of dread.
Fun facts - There can be no more than 3 Friday the 13ths in a calendar year and no fewer than 1. Any month starting with a Sunday will contain a Friday the 13th (*see current month).
History - One possible source is found in Norse Mythology. A dinner party was held in Valhalla. 12 gods were invited. Loki was not included. He arrived as the 13th guest. He then tricked the Goddess of Darkness, Hoor, to shoot Balder, The God of Joy, with a mistletoe tipped arrow. His death sent the Earth (Midgard) into despair. Since then the number 13 has been viewed as unlucky.
In Christianity, there were 13 individuals who attended the Last Supper on the night before the crucifixion of Jesus. Also, members of the Knights Templar were arrested by officers of King Philip IV of France on Friday the 13th, 1307.
Of interest is the 1834 play, Less Finessus des Gribouilles, in which a character with a long string of bad luck states, " I was born on a Friday, December 13, 1813 from which come all of my misfortunes."
Also, the Italian composer Rossini was always fearful of the number 13 and disliked Fridays. He felt them to be "unlucky". Rossini died on Friday the 13th, 1868.
Probably more about Friday the 13th than you ever wanted to know. Regardless, be safe out there today. Maybe stay away from Camp Crystal Lake!