Friday the 13th
It’s Friday the 13th people! You know what that means! Yes, it’s Black Friday. All the superstitions apply to this unlucky day. Things like not cutting your fingernails, not being mean to a black cat, never climb a ladder or else you’ll topple over. But let us observe the history of Black Friday more closely. When did this upheaval about Friday the 13th begin? Just who started the sentiment that Friday the 13th was a day of bad luck?
Well, according to records, the date Friday the 13th wasn’t considered inauspicious until the 14th Century, when The Canterbury Tales was publicized. From then on, many professions have considered Friday the 13th an unlucky day to conduct business and undertake journeys. Black Friday has also been associated with stock market crashes and other disastrous events. The records also show that Friday is an unlucky day because it is a Christian’s belief that Jesus Christ had died on a particular Friday.
Some people believe this sentiment so much that there has been a classified phobia for Friday the 13th. It affects people’s social life, as they avoid what they usually do in their normal routine. The most feared activity that people avoid is taking flight. Despite this, Continental Airlines states that there have been no casualties regarding problems in flight.
Catastrophic events have been associated with this particular date. In some countries, an increase has been seen in the number of accidents that have occurred on this day. Infamous rapper, Tupac Shakur, was shot during a drive-by on Friday the 13th of September, 1996. Some people choose to ignore the superstitions regarding Black Friday and carry on with their normal lives. Are you one of these people? Or are you just subconsciously cautious in every little thing you do? Either way, Black Friday is one thing to be aware of. -Norma Ngatamariki

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