It’s all because of our darned calendar, you know. 365 days in a year divided into 12 months and 7-day weeks. It just doesn’t divide evenly. So, at least once and up to three times a year, we end up with Fridays in a week coinciding with the 13th of the month.
Wikipedia and UrbanLegends.com (http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/historical/a/friday_the_13th.htm) explain: The sixth day of the week and the number 13 both carry bad raps. Put ‘em together, and people—maybe as many as eight percent of all Americans!—notice.
And, perhaps, people notice a little more than simple logic would dictate. The article on UrbanLegends.com says some people refuse to go to work on Friday the 13th; others won't venture out to eat. And I know you’ve noticed: Many buildings don’t name the 13th floor “13.” Check out the elevator next time you’re in a high rise!
UrbanLegends taught me something I hadn’t heard before: If you have 13 letters in your name, the 13 superstition predicts you will have the devil's luck: Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all have 13 letters in their names. Now I know why I use “Dave” instead of “David.” Brr! Did you feel that breeze blow through the room just now?
Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_the_13th) explains that the number twelve is considered the number of completeness: twelve months of the year; twelve hours of the clock; twelve gods of Olympus; twelve tribes of Israel; twelve Apostles of Jesus; twelve signs of the Zodiac. So the next number, thirteen, being one more than complete, would be considered just plain wrong. And Friday? Wikipedia says the sixth day of the week has been considered an unlucky day for centuries, possibly because the number 6 itself is felt to be somewhat evil.
10x10 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column and 2x5 rectangle contains the letters in the word or phrase exactly once
Fear of Friday is called friggatriskaidekaphobia: Frigga is the Norse goddess for whom Friday is named. The word has also been used to name the fear of Friday the 13th. Fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia. But for the past 60 years now, science has used another word for fear of Friday the 13th, a mixture of the Greek words for 13, Friday and fear. Solve the extra Word Sudoku puzzle to spell out this 23-letter word.
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and set of circled cells contains the letters in the word exactly once
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and set of circled cells contains the letters in the word exactly once
Copy circled letters to the corresponding numbered cells in the quote grid to spell out a word describing "fear of Friday the 13th"
Thanks,
--Dave
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