Friday the 13th - the myth:
Watch out! Today is Friday the 13th, known by many as the unluckiest day of the year. In the Gregorian calendar, Friday the 13th always occurs at least once a year and can appear up to three times in any one year. There will be only two occurrences of the superstitious day this year (2017): January 13th, and October 13th.
While many will laugh off the superstitious day, others will remain in bed paralyzed by fear and avoid daily tasks, conducting business or traveling, in the U.S., an estimated 17 to 21 million people suffer from a fear of Friday the 13th, according to a study by the North Carolina Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute. The phobia, known as friggatriskaidekaphobia, is not uncommon. The word comes from Frigga, the name of the Norse goddess for whom Friday is named, and triskaidekaphobia, or fear of the number thirteen. It is also sometimes called paraskevidekatriaphobia, from the Greek Paraskevi for Friday, Dekatreis for thirteen and phobia for fear.
History and Origins of Friday the 13th
The origin of fears surrounding Friday the 13th is unclear. There is reportedly no written evidence of Friday the 13th superstition before the 19th century, but superstitions surrounding the number 13 date back to at least 1700 BC. In the ancient Babylon's Code of Hammurabi, dating to about 1772 BC, the number 13 is omitted in the list of laws.
The number 13 has been considered cursed across the world for thousands of years. In 1881, an organization was started called The Thirteen Club in an attempt to improve the number's reputation. The 13 members walked under ladders and spilled salt at the first meeting in an attempt to dissuade any negative associations with the number. Despite these efforts, the number 13 continues to have an unlucky association today. Thirteen is so disliked that many cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue, many high-rise buildings avoid having a 13th floor, some hospitals avoid labeling rooms with the number 13 and many airports will not have a gate 13.
Credits: Excerpts taken from web posting by Julia Greenberg (2012); www.ibtimes.com/friday-13th-history-origins-myths-superstitions-unlucky-day-395108
Watch for next cache to be published in this series on October 13th this year, where the bikers usually run!
First to Find (FTF) will be granted immunity for life from all such superstitions; i,e. bad-luck-Friday-13th, walking under ladders, black cats crossing your path, breaking mirrors, etc. (LOL). Those who find this cache on any Friday the 13th, automatically receive one (1) year immunity from same!