Recently Dissident was expressing his uneasiness that his upcoming surgery falls on Friday the 13th.  “Just another day,” I tried to assure him. Although I never considered myself superstitious I realized that there are a few quirky things I do to “prevent” bad luck. So I did a little reading to see where some of these superstitions originated.

White Rabbits – Since I can remember that has been the first thing I’ve said on the first day of every month. If you do it is supposed to bring you good luck throughout that month. I asked my brother if he knew if it was a family thing (we can be weird) and he didn’t know. So I went to the source and asked mom, thinking it must be a British thing and she also thought it might just be a family thing. Fortunately, it’s not. I found out that some research shows “White Rabbits” originated in England, possibly as early as the 1200s. There are some variations in the saying (i.e. Rabbit, Rabbit) but why does it bring luck? It was believed (in Somerset) that white rabbits were witches and apparently this warded them off? I don’t know. Maybe in my case I’m calling them.
Interestingly there is another superstition involving rabbits. I thought of you, B, when I read this:  You’re sitting next to someone who is smoking and the smoke goes in your face. Remedy? Say “I hate white rabbits” to make the smoke change direction.

Friday the 13th – Friday was named after Frigg, the Norse goddess of fertility, among other things. I can’t see why that would bring bad luck, yet it is mentioned often.  Supposedly that wicked, wicked Eve gave the apple to Adam on a Friday. Abel was slain by his bro Cain on a Friday. And of course the crucifixion was on Friday. So for Christians, I guess I understand. But Friday is also the Witch’s Sabbath. Once again, I don’t see it as being unlucky.

There were 13 guests at the Last Supper, with good ol’ Judas as the thirteenth. Scandinavians believed there were 12 demigods and the 13th was the evil one who brought bad luck. In ancient Greek numerology the number 13 in fortune telling signifies bad luck.  Covens in early Rome consisted on 12 witches…one more (the 13th) was evil. There are 13 knots in a Viking’s hangman noose. 13 = Unlucky.

Some people won’t travel on Friday the 13th and about 90% of skyscrapers and hotels have no “thirteenth” floor. It’s all good…we’ve all survived many a Friday the 13th!

Black Cats – Meow. They’ve always been good luck for me. The Norse Goddess of Female Power, Freyja, had a chariot pulled by black horses. After serving Freyja for seven years they became witches disguised as black cats. Black cats are familiars of witches. This legend dates back to the Middle Ages when witches were, of course, satanic, evil, etc.  Although in Egyptian mythology cats were sacred to the Goddess Isis, in other areas cats were thought to suck the breath of babies. 

Knock on Wood – This dates back to when Druids regarded oak as sacred and holy.  Good spirits lived in trees. Knocking on oak prevented the spirits from depriving you of good fortune. 

And of course, we never walk under ladders, do we? For most of us it’s because something (Paint can, person, etc) may fall on us. A ladder forms a triangle which represents the Holy Trinity and by breaking it (walking under it) one is exposing oneself to the devil. Okay.

Well my curiosity led me to question where these superstitions started. Dissident, hope it eased your mind some. But don’t worry. I’ll do a little something for your protection of Friday!

Have a good one ~ Storm