Origin of Friday the 13th?

[F.Gordon]

I've been told that it's origin is: April 13, 1204. During the Fourth Crusade the crusading armies spent 3 days doing that "Christian" thing of rape, massacre, and pillaging upon the city of Constantinople (a Christian city). Friday the 13th represents the date that Constantinople fell.

Anyone heard otherwise? I think there was something with the Knights of Templar as well.

Or, is the origin the date that dude killed all those poor teenagers hanging out at the lake?

[Joylaughter]

1. Actually

I believe that on November 13th, Felix Unger was asked to remove himself from his place of residence. That request came from his wife. Deep down he knew she was right. With nowhere else to go he appeared at the home of his childhood friend, Oscar Madison. Several years earlier Madison's wife had thrown him out too, requesting that he never return. Can two divorced men share an apartment without driving eachother crazy?

[F.Gordon]

6. I think you got it. And Felix was a Templar Knight.

I always screw this stuff up and get my dates wrong.

[jeff30997]

2. You're absolutely right !

[Aries]

3. Jacques Demolay and the Knights Templar

http://astrology.about.com/library/weekly/aa101300a.htm?terms=friday+the+13th

Friday the 13th

Jacques Demolay and the Knights Templar

Both the number 13 and the day of the week Friday have had varied "reputations" throughout the centuries - sometimes considered to be holy and at other times considered to be unholy. In the Western world, the superstition linking Friday the 13th with being unlucky is primarily associated with the final Grand Master of the Knights Templar, Jacques Demolay, and the date of Friday, October the 13th, 1307 AD (Old Style - OS)

[F.Gordon]

9. It appears there is no definitive date

But I might have got the Knights Templar part right.

[arbusto_baboso]

4. There IS a Templar reference...

On a Friday the 13th (can't remember the month off the top of my head) in 1309, the head of the Templar order, Jacques DeMolay was burned at the stake for heresy, among a laundry list of charges. Many, many other highly-placed Templars were also executed in similar fashion that day, and the purge of the order began.

Certainly bad luck for DeMolay and the other Templars, but why do WE have the superstition? Possibly because DeMolay is repouted to have said, while slow-roasting, that the Pope and King of France would join him in death within the year. And so they did.

[Connie_Corleone]

5. Jason's mommy...

His mommy was the one killing the poor teenagers on FRIDAY THE 13.

[F.Gordon]

7. His Mom!!!

Sorry, I never had a chance to watch the documentary.

[Cerridwen]

8. Here's a little history . . .

A History Of Friday The 13th

Author: Gabriella Kalapos

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/mythology/37293

A History Of Friday The 13th - part 2

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/1417/37294

Enjoy.

[F.Gordon]

10. Thanks

This stuff completely blows apart what I've been told. Guess it will always be a "mystery".

[Cerridwen]

11. I'd like to share something I've learned over the years

I've researched and studied "alternative" religions, belief systems, traditions, etc. for some years now.

One common thread I find is that if something is "bad luck", i.e. black cats, walking under ladders, Friday the 13th, and so forth, you can probably look to early xtianity pointing at something pagan and calling it evil. Cats=witches=independent women=evil=sin=devil is one simplified example.

Any time you see one of those mysteries, look for the need by someone at sometime to make a belief or person "evil."

My .02 which ain't worth much today.

[Karenina]

12. Doch!

:toast:

[Cerridwen]

13. Er, Slainte!

:toast:

[F.Gordon]

14. The way Constantinople was destroyed

Would imply that the Crusaders thought it was "evil". History has a funny way of screwing up modern beliefs. Like Xmas going from a 30 day drunken party to the birth of Jesus.

Cults (the occult) is on my long list of things I know little about.

[Cerridwen]

15. Didn't they? I'll google for a quick

history refresher. Having a "senior moment" re: history.

As to cults (the occult), I would like to respectfully and gently note that the occult is not necessarily a cult any more than a cult is necessarily about the occult; btw, occult means "hidden" and can describe many religious and spiritual rituals and beliefs which can be "hidden" for many reasons. Fear of persecution being paramount to many early non-xtian religions/traditions which sometimes resulted in crucification for adherents because of their beliefs.

[F.Gordon]

17. You don't have to be respectful or gentle with me

Sometimes the only way I can learnin' anything is when someone slaps me upside the head. I think I already knew that, but it depends on the day of the week, and Fridays are definitely one of my "don't know jack" days.;) Guess I was throwing in the evil/occult thingey into the Templar Knights thingey and jumbling them all together.

[Cerridwen]

18. Okee dokee.

I just figured I didn't know ya well enough and I'm too new (posting-wise) here to slap anyone upside the head...yet.

:evilgrin:

'Sides, it's kinda hard to think today; what with it being Friday the 13th and all.

:D

[ET Awful]

16. And all this time I thought they just needed a day to fill the space . . .

between Thursday the 12th and Saturday the 14th.

[niceperson]

19. has anybody ever heard of a tuesday the 13th superstition?

I once read that in latin america it was tuesday the13th that people avoided but I don't have any evidence either way.