Friday the 13th

CEBU, Philippines - During recess period, the kittens known as Blackfoot, Whitefang and Stripe asked their teacher – Brad, the world’s smartest rat – an intriguing question.

“What’s the big deal with ‘Friday the 13th’, Brad?” asked Stripe, the smartest of the three.

“Yeah,” agreed Whitefang. “It’s just another day, yet everyone seems to be really afraid of it!”

“Is it really an unlucky day?” Blackfoot then asked.

Brad knew that the kittens would be asking him those questions, what with tomorrow being Friday the 13th. As the world’s smartest rat and as the kittens’ teacher, he knew how curious and inquisitive they could be.

“Superstitions revolving around Friday the 13th have long been feared, asked, debated and talked about by society, little kittens,” said Brad.

“It has received so much attention by media and different cultures that the explanations of its origins have somewhat become difficult to pinpoint.”

“One popular theory about the ‘bad luck’ origins of Friday the 13th is linked with Jesus Christ, who was crucified on a Friday.”

“Another origin theory links Friday the 13th to Hangman’s Day in old Britain, with Friday being the day when criminals were punished for their crimes.”

“A bestselling book put the spotlight on another bad luck origin theory for Friday the 13th, noting that during the medieval times, a powerful group called the Knights Templar met their downfall on Friday, October 13, 1307.”

“There are actually more theories about the origin of Friday the 13th’s unlucky reputation, and the three I mentioned are just some of them.”

“The belief in Friday the 13th being unlucky is so widespread that there is actually a term used in describing an irrational fear for Friday the 13th, called paraskevidekatriaphobia.”

“There’s also a term for describing the irrational fear for the number 13 called triskaidekaphobia.”

“Just like most superstitions, Friday the 13th’s unlucky reputation is linked to the different reasons why  various cultures and societies view certain colors, numbers and days as unlucky or bad.”

“Though this is not the reply you want to hear, I really can’t give a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer to your question, but here’s what I have to say: Just like how certain predictions and forecasts can be self-fulfilling, some beliefs, like Friday the 13th’s unlucky nature, can be self-validating.”

The kittens thought about Brad’s reply to their question. After thinking for a bit, Blackfoot breaks the silence.

“So Brad, what you’re saying is… Friday the 13th is an unlucky day if you believe in it?”

“Something like that, ‘foot… something like that,” was all Brad could say. (FREEMAN)