NEWS
Friday the 13th origins are varied
The number 13 is widely considered unlucky, so much so that certain buildings do not list a thirteenth floor. It’s hard to avoid 13 when it makes up a day each and every month, and even more so when the 13th falls on a Friday.
Every year people are treated to at least one Friday the 13th on the Gregorian calendar, but some years there can be as many as three such days. It is difficult to pinpoint when superstitions surrounding Friday the 13th first came to be, but it may have something to do with Christianity.
The New York Historical Society says the unlucky connotations may be traced back to The Last Supper. In attendance were 13 people: Jesus as well as his 12 apostles (one of whom betrayed him). The following day (Friday) Jesus was crucified. Superstitions cropped up among Christians that a table of 13 “courted death” and that having 13 people around a table or in a group was unlucky, according to the BBC.
The number 12 often is seen as a sign of completion. The 12 months of the year, 12 zodiac signs, 12 apostles, 12 days of Christmas, and 12 gods of Olympus perhaps bolster that reputation. That belief may have given rise to foods being sold in multiples of 12, as in a dozen doughnuts. Thirteen is then incomplete.
Friday also has a reputation for being unlucky. It was said to be the day Eve gave Adam the apple from the Tree of Knowledge as well as the day Cain killed his brother, Abel.
The Christian connection is not the only potential source of superstition surrounding the unlucky nature of 13. History.com says the ancient Code of Hammurabi reportedly omitted a 13th law from its list of legal rules. Also, National Public Radio says the Knights Templar were condemned on a Friday the 13th.
Although there are many past examples of when Friday and the number 13 have been linked to potential bad luck, word of mouth also may have contributed to this unfortunate relationship. Things have a tendency to be misremembered, which is known as the “Mandela Effect.” It is possible someone misremembered or incorrectly indicated that Friday the 13th was unlucky, and then it has since been remembered that way.
Thirteen is not always considered unlucky. Prior to World War I, the French traditionally considered 13 a lucky number. In Italy, 13 was the lucky number in football pools. The Italian expression “fare tredici” meant “to hit the jackpot” and is translated as “make thirteen.” Also, Colgate University has long considered 13 a lucky number, as the school was founded by 13 men with 13 dollars, 13 prayers and 13 articles.
Friday the 13th next falls in December 2024, potentially leaving the superstitious on edge.
Members of the Amon Carter Lake Water Supply Corporation will meet at 6 p.m. on May 26 in the office at 607A Lindsey for a monthly meeting.
Items on the agenda include a consent agenda and minutes and financials. Possible discussion/action may be considered on the following topics: Treasurer’s report, review of finance and current loans; president’s report as to the written agreements with contractual employees; consider current water rates and a possible increase; and review of expenses and areas that need amendment.
An executive session may be entered to discuss personnel issues.
The City of Saint Jo has a new fire marshal as the city council made the appointment during its May 13 meeting.
Gary Hines, a retired professional firefighter and certified fire investigator, will take the position. City Secretary Debbie Dennis said the post is required by ordinance but has not been filled for a long period.
The council set dates for a budget workshop for 2 p.m. on June 14 and 2 p.m. on June 28 for the ordinance workshop, as the council works to update its rules.
Aldermen gave their support to a proposition by Councilman Jack Dunn who is asking the Legislature to allow Texas’ smallest cities, those with 2,500 or few in population, to receive an additional share of sales and use tax. He would like to see the funds used in these communities to repair and replace aging infrastructure without new taxes or reliance on state grants.
In letter to State Rep. David Spiller, whom Dunn will meet with on June 1, the alderman explains much of the state’s 6.25% share generated locally flows into general funds and is spent on other priorities. He would like Spiller to author this legislation. Dunn gave the letter to the council along with a powerpoint on the plan.
“A single water treatment plant upgrade or sewer rehab carries massive, fixed costs that do not shrink with population size. These communities, often with only a few hundred or a couple thousands residents, simply cannot spread those costs across enough ratepayers or a broad tax based,” the letter states.
Dunn suggests a “graduated sales tax retention policy:” 1% additional share for cities with 2,500 or fewer residents; .75% for those 2,500 and 5,000; and .50% for cities between 5,001 and 10,000. It would be dedicated to infrastructure. Dunn says the overall statewide fiscal impact would be negligible, but could help sustain small, rural cities.
The Nocona City Council approved a bid for a new 203,000 gallon capacity tank for potable water at the water plant and learned a slide repair to the lake dam is going to be pretty costly.
At its May 12 session the council received three bids on the tank and went with one from Tank Depot of Cleburne for $193,923. It is for a a 217,600 gallon tank usable for 203,000 gallons. The price could change slightly since it was based on estimate freight costs.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
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