It is Friday 13th, (not good news if you suffer from Friggatriskaidekaphobia*) so I thought I would use this opportunity to explore exactly why this day became notorious, however it is apparently not completely clear! So, instead, (thanks to timeandate.com) I have collected some ‘fascinating facts’ to share with you.
Every year in the Gregorian calendar will have a Friday 13th, with some years having up to 3 (2015 being the latest example). Incidentally, 2020 had 2; March and November and the longest you can go between them is 14 months.
It’s all about the number 28…
The month must begin on a Sunday to have a Friday 13th.
Whenever a common year* begins on a Thursday, the year will have 3 Friday 13ths (February, March, November) and this repeats in a 28-year cycle.
During the 21st Century, this is: 2009, 2015, 2026, 2037, beginning again in 2043.
It’s not just about the common year, leap years can also have a Friday 13th. The year just needs to begin on a Sunday and then January, April and July will have 3. Once again, 28 comes into play and we have 2012, 2040, 2068, and 2096.
It is not unlucky everywhere! Tuesday 13th is the day of misfortune in Greece and it is Friday 17th in Italy.
To finish my ‘fascinating facts’, I am only 9 months late wishing you Happy kansallinen tapaturmapäivä (Happy National Accident Day in Finland). It’s an annual event held on a Friday 13th.
I realised last week that I hadn’t shared with you my current musical listening. To be honest, I’ve been struggling to get into a groove. This week I have tried Radio 1 Live Lounge and have had more success, quite enjoying some rather unusual renditions of some of my old favourites. Currently it’s Sandi Thom and More Than Words and I’m really rather enjoying it.
Happy Friday everyone!
*Friggatriskaidekaphobia comes from Frigg, the Norse goddess of wisdom after whom Friday is named, and the Greek words triskaideka, meaning 13, and phobia, meaning fear.
*A common year is a standard Gregorian calendar year with 365 days divided into 12 months, and only 28 days in February.
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