When Friday the 13th rolls around, it is acknowledged throughout the U.S. through television news, any live show you may be watching that day and, in the newspapers. Why do people fear Friday the 13th? There are many theories as to the origin of this fear driven phenomenon. Many people will not hold celebrations on this day for fear that it will bring bad luck. This fear is known as friggatriskaidekaphobia. The word itself is derived from the Norse goddess Frigga for whom the day Friday is named after. Along with Frigga is the word triskaidekaphobia, which is the fear of the number thirteen.
A superstition is a belief or a practice that is not based on facts or events that can be proven. For example, some people believe in the superstition that if a black cat crosses your path, you will have bad luck. The reason this is called a superstition is because no one can prove that any “bad luck” you encounter arose from having a black cat cross your path! Plus, exactly what it would mean to have “bad luck” is also something that cannot be defined -- it’s something everyone would describe in his or her own way! The use of superstitions is very old, particularly because for a long time people didn’t have the science to explain the cause and effect of things that happened. Another example is if you walk under a ladder it will give you bad luck.
On Jan. 13, 1982, an Air Florida 737 crashed into Washington, D.C.’s 14th Street Bridge and fell into the Potomac River after taking off during a snowstorm, killing a total of 78 people; four passengers and a flight attendant survived. (Half an hour after the Air Florida crash, a Washington Metro train derailed during rush hour, killing three passengers.) In 1733, James Oglethorpe and some 120 English colonists arrived at Charleston, S.C., while en route to settle in present-day Georgia. In 1794, President George Washington approved a measure adding two stars and two stripes to the American flag, following the admission of Vermont and Kentucky to the Union. (The number of stripes was later reduced to the original 13.)
Andrea,
ReplyDeleteVery good post today. I was very impressed and enjoyed reading your post. One thing that I will mention is that you need to introduce your paragraph, the third one in this case. What were you writing about???? You just gave some dates and what happened on those dates.
Your word count 362 words
Your grade 25/25
Great job mommy :)
This was very inter resting to read .And did you know that if you broke a mirror that is bad luck to .It say that you will have seven years bad luck. You did a wonderful job on your posting today.keep up with the good work.
ReplyDeletegreat job andi, back in the 40,s and 50,s coal miners where payed with 2 dollars bills. because of miners deaths.people said the 2 dollars bills were to blame. love Pappie.
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