The most precarious of all the days is upon us. Fortunately, those who fear the worst only have to endure a Friday the 13th once in all of 2016.
Incidents of mishap date back at least to the Medieval period as memorialized in this illustration depicting the fate of Jacques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templar, who was captured on a Friday the 13th. Chaucer, in his Canterbury Tales, and many authors since, have cautioned against starting a journey on a Friday. And, Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States, would not travel on Friday the 13th, nor would he host a dinner party of thirteen diners.
Of course, there is all the unfounded hubbub about black cats being unlucky. Here is a list of lucky cat encounters to refute those unfortunate and inaccurate fabrications. And, or course, Nubia, one of the Katzenworld stars, would never cause any mischief.
You can see my painting of Nubia (and Oliver, too!) here, at my blog Art is Not for Sissies. I hope you have an uneventful Friday the 13th!
Today is the 20th anniversary of losing my Dad, though he died on a Monday, not a Friday. I’ve been trying to work out if there are any more Friday the 13ths this year, so thank you. I’ve never thought of black cats as being unlucky, afterall, symbols of such were given at weddings. As is the norm, I lit a candle for my Dad today in the Abbey. It was beautifully peaceful.
Thanks for sharing about your Dad. I appreciate your thoughtful and pensive comment.
The best cat I’ve ever known was a lovely, lustrous black. I miss him to this day. Personally, I like Friday the 13th.
I’ve had four black cats and they never caused me a day of bad luck 🙂
Yes, and they sit on it when you reading them their schedules!
That art is cute. I am very superstitious, but not about black cats. I have 3.
Here are two reasons not to travel on a Friday (other than commuting home).
1: In the UK, long-distance train travel on a Friday tends to be more expensive (presumably because a lot of people are leaving on a Friday for a weekend away, or to start a holiday with the weekend to reduce the time off work they’re taking).
:2: In summer, main road routes tend to be busy for the same reason. But when I worked in Finland it was even more so. Work ended early on a Friday for most people and you saw the cars streaming out of Helsinki taking people to their huts in the country for the weekend.
The number 13? You can tell a lot about an area by whether the streets have houses numbered 13 or not. I prefer the ones that do.
Black cats unlucky? Just ask Sunderland FC supporters. Americans: look it up on the internet.
Reblogged this on Rattiesforeverworldpresscom.
As the current keeper of a magnificent house panther – if anyone is suspicious or afraid of black cats, your life is woefully small and we feel pity for you. House panthers are sweet, gorgeous and bring nothing but good luck and love!! The only downside to having a black cat (that I’ve found) is the inability to take fab photos with a camera phone without proper natural light (the black fur absorbs the light rather than reflect it!).
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I have two black cats and love them both, although the older one does have a weird sense of humour…great post, really interesting facts.
Thank you!
All one needs to do is hold their breath until the 13th is over, and if they survive, the sun shines (most of the time) on the 14th. Love your cat art.
Thanks!
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