Jillian Chantal

Triskaidekaphobia is the fear ofthe number 13 and paraskevidekatriaphobia (say that three times  fast) is fear of Friday the Thirteenth.  I figured that since today was such a day that I’d share one or two or three of the origins of the superstition of these days in the calendar.  One of the theories is that because Judas was the 13th disciple to arrive at the last supper and betrayed Jesus, that the number is unlucky. Another theory is that 12 witches in Roman times make a coven and the 13th would be the devil. There is also a Norse myth where 12 gods were having dinner and the 13th guest walked in, uninvited- it was Loki – the god of mischief- he arranged for one of the gods to shoot the god of  happiness and joy with an arrow tipped in poison- that god died and the whole Earth was dark and mourned for the loss.  Based on the Last Supper and the Norse Myth, there is a corresponding superstition that if you  have 13 at a dinner party, one will die  (that sounds like an Agatha Cristie novel to me).

My pet theory has to do with the Knight’s Templar.  There is a theory that the King of France, on October 13, 1307, ordered that all the Knights Templar be arrested and executed. It was a Friday- this is one of the only theories I know that actually says the day of Friday- most of the rest of the theories deal with the number, not the day of the week.  Jesus was crucified on a Friday but the last supper where Judas was guest number 13 was a Thursday.

 The Knights Templar were originally formed to protect  to protect Christians on Crusade but they became wealthy and powerful and the King wanted to strip them of their wealth and power. Some of them were warned ahead of time and escaped.   This theory is my favorite for personal reasons.  Here is the shield of the Knights Templar:

In hoc signo vinces means In this sign, victory- it is the motto of the Knights. You may see the initials IHS on various vestments and altar decorations in churches and it means “in this sign” – it was  used by early Christians as a way to not be discovered, similar to  the fish drawn in the sand.  It referred to the Sign of the Cross.

A picture of a Knight Templar:  Note the Cross on his robe. 

Now, go out and tempt fate: Invite 13 people to eat dinner.

Or if you  have triskaidekaphobia, here are some cures from folklore: climb to the top of a mountain or tall building and burn all your socks with holes (I recommend the mountain over the building as you don’t want to set off a fire alarm and have the bad luck of going to jail).   Another cure is to stand on your head and eat a piece of gristle (and not choke to death??- yeah, right).

Anyway, enjoy your Friday the 13th and I’ll “see” you in my next post if a broken mirror doesn’t fall on your black cat!