Friday 13

Bad luck.
I overslept.
No, it doesn't have anything to do with it being a friday, the 13th.

Actually, there are a few things that can make this particular friday a very lucky day... or any other friday like this.

Today (in most of Europe), one of the biggest lottery prizes is up for grabs as "Euromillions" has a total jackpot prize of over € 103,000,000.00 (a hundred and three million euros). Who wants to be the unluck one ?!... I've already place my bet and I do feel unlucky !!!

Historically, the origins of Friday superstitions are many. One of the best known is that Eve tempted Adam with the apple on a Friday. Tradition also has it that the Flood in the Bible, the confusion at the Tower of Babel, and the death of Jesus Christ all took place on Fridays.

Long before the Bible was written, Friday was considered an important day. Primitive people set aside Fridays as a special time to worship their deities and ask them for good crops, health and happiness. Those who worked on this day were told not to expect "good luck" from the gods.

In Israel, Friday the 13th is considered to be an unusually lucky day. In Judaism, Friday is a very special day because the Sabbath begins on Friday evening and because the Bible mentions that God noted that his creations on this day were very good. Moreover, the number 13 has always had a special lucky significance to Judaism.

A few examples:
- the Bar Mitzva is held at age 13;
- there are 13 months in the Hebrew lunar calendar;
- the Bible lists 13 attributes of God;
- there are 613 commandments.

Some Jews consider the american $1 bill lucky because there are so many 13's on it: 13 stars, 13 stripes, 13 steps, 13 arrows and even an olive branch with 13 leaves on it. Speaking of which, in America:

- there were 13 colonies in British North America;
- there are 13 stars and stripes in the original American flag;
- Alfred Hitchkock was born on Friday, August 13th (a quite fitting date).

To end this (and concerning the existance, or not, of luck), let me just add a quote from someone who was born on the 13th (not a Friday though) and who was a great poet. He wrote this on the very day he died:

"I know not what tomorrow will bring".

          - Fernando Pessoa