It is
Friday the thirteenth and it is snowing. That’s not such a bad thing. Most
folks think of Friday the thirteenth as a day of bad luck, but is it
really? How did it get such a nasty
reputation anyway? Well, it was all a propaganda ploy.
Back in
the Middle Ages, when the Christian religion was slowly pushing out the older
ways, Friday was Freya’s Day. That’s how Friday got its name. Freya’s followers
held rituals on the full moon. There are thirteen full moons in a year; can you
see where this is going? Yes, most of Her followers were (and are) women. Often
they would gather in numbers of thirteen to honor the moon and their goddess,
especially when Freya’s Day fell on the thirteenth.
The
Church decried these women as witches and Friday the thirteenth as a day of
great Evil, urging everyone to spend the day in the church, praying for
salvation and deliverance from the witches. It was a bit of propaganda that
seems to have worked well, as many people still fear the thirteenth as a day of
bad luck.
Me, I
have always found this to be a day of exceptional good luck. Today is no
different. I am warm and safe, well fed and will hundreds of friends to chat
with. I’m ahead of schedule in my work, I have found yet another great unsung author,
and I have four snoring dogs around my chair. As I look out the window at the
storm, I consider myself lucky to be in here. Life is good.
So tell me, how do you feel about Friday the Thirteenth?
Here's my book about modern day witches and a church getting past their differences and working together to defeat evil. Check out Dark Star, a YA novel. https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/65992
Posts
Thanks, Prudence! What an interesting read. Like you, I consider Friday the 13th to be a lucky day. In fact, this morning a potential client called me and it looks like we will be working together soon. My day is off to a great start!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's awesome, Beth. I hope it keeps getting better. :)
DeleteI always feel a sense of excitement when a day is marked "special" in any way-good or bad. Feels like there's possibility in the air...for something new and adventurous to happen. Superstition is fascinating to me, the way it gets so ingrained in us, passed down through stories and generations. We are such vulnerable creatures. Seems we will do/believe anything to feel like we have some sense of control over our fate.
ReplyDeleteI agree Shannon, and once we believe it, we find ways to make it true. Scary, ain't it?
DeleteGee, I didn't know it was Friday the thirteenth until I read this post ... what does tell you?
ReplyDeleteThat tells me you are a very busy and hard working man, sir. That or you slept in today. :)
DeleteI didn't know that. Thanks Prudence. This was very informantive. I really liked it. I like all that earthen witch stuff too.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Debra. I find the earth based religions fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that - fascinating! Of course it figures that the evil is blamed on women...
ReplyDeleteOf course, Julie. Men never do anything bad, do they?
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to think of acts in history more horrifying than what religious fanatics did to women accused of witchcraft. The complete subjugation and belittling of women was and is one of the most repugnant acts perpetrated by men. Had women remained on equal footing with men in the political arena, I doubt our world would be the mess it is today.
DeleteGreat post! I really enjoyed Gifted and Dark Star. The whole idea of showing the other side of what is traditionally called witchcraft is fascinating to me.
I have always been scared of this day. See, I can't even type it! But that has been more about the movies with the same name. Not that I've actually seen them. Just knowing they exist scares the begeezus out if me! But, now, hopefully I won't be so afraid. After all 3 is my favorite number and I believe that "witches" were just smart women who said no, kind of like the modern day B-word. Thanks for taking the scary away. Maybe now I can sleep without the light on tonight!
ReplyDeleteHi Emma, 3 is the scared number to the feminine based religions, as in maid, mother, and crone (wise woman) Freya is a very protective Lady, she won't let anything happen to you while you sleep. :)
ReplyDeleteVery cool, Prudence. I did read about Freya in my Google searching earlier for my post. One tidbit said their were 12 witches and someone brought a dog or some-such (I was reading fast!) and forevermore a 'coven' was made up of 13.
ReplyDeleteHey, that was no dog, that was my cousin Ellie. hehehe
DeleteFirst of all, that's the book I'm going to read next. :) I will eventually need to buy all of your books.
ReplyDeleteSecond of all, I had no idea about Friday the 13th, so thanks for the brief history lesson! All I know is I was born on Friday the 13th (in March). My mom (with whom I no longer speak) always said that's how she knew it was good luck, rather than bad.
As for me, today wasn't amazing, but it wasn't bad. And if I do what you did and think about all I have for which to be thankful...it's a perfect day. I have some time alone this evening. I'm fit to push a hell of a workout. I'm expanding my social network and making friends and learning so much. I'm getting writing and editing done and will publish ahead of schedule. I'm visiting my sister and her family this weekend...I could go on and on. Damn, I'm blessed!
Have a good evening, Pru! I won't be around tooooo much this weekend.
Rock on girl, life is for enjoying!
ReplyDeleteI know it is only a coincidence, but my Friday sucked big time! I trust people too much and sometimes I really get burned. I don't think I will change. It is really disappointing when it happens. I just keep hoping that people will be less selfish in the future!
ReplyDeleteThought I read this, but it was another Friday the 13th post! Great post!
Susie, I'm so sorry you had a bad day Friday. I hope this week goes better for you.
DeleteA great site on the goddess Freya; I have put a link from my blog on the Valkyries to your site.
ReplyDeleteKaterin