A lot many people are unreasonably uncomfortable when the day of the week and the month align to become Friday, the 13th, a date made formidable by religion, mythology and urban legends. Even in this age, some of us are apprehensive of doing anything important on this day as we are made to believe that the date is ominous, inauspicious.
They call this fear friggatriskaidekaphobia. However, is there at all any truth in such beliefs? To answer the question, let’s take a look at some of the best events that had taken place on this apparently unlucky date.
1. End of discrimination in employment on a Friday, the 13th
It was October 13, a Friday in 1967 when Lyndon Johnson, the 36th President of the United States signed the Executive Order 11375. It marked the ushering of a new, modern and progressive era where the government couldn’t impose discrimination in employment based on gender.
A similar order was issued previously which forbade the government to discriminate on the basis of sex, creed and color. However, this was the first time the United States took a revolutionary step to include gender in the list, marking the dawn of women’s liberation in the country’s employment sector.
2. The world got the Hollywood sign
The magnanimous sign on the Mont Lee in Los Angeles, California, that is nothing less of a cultural icon of America, or for that matter, the entire world, was uncurtained on Friday, July 13, 1923. At first, the Hollywood sign was meant to be an advertising hoarding for the Real Estate industry in Los Angeles and it spelled, HOLLYWOODLAND.
The last four letters were removed in 1945 the 50 – foot – tall bold letters, that represent the most loved film industry of the world still stand majestic since the day they were unveiled in a Friday, the 13th.
3. Athens found her freedom from the Nazis and Fascists
Athens, whom the world calls the cradle of democracy, was attacked by the Axis Powers during World War II which led to devastation of the Greek economy as well as thousands of innocent deaths. For three years, Athens lay under the control of Fascism of non-democratic, imperialistic nations, Germany and Italy.
Finally, in 1944, with the aid of Russia, America and Britain, Athens finally found its democracy back as it freed itself from the clutches of the Axis on October 13, Friday.
4. Heavy-metal heavyweights, Black Sabbath breaks into the scene
Considering the conventional notion associated to Friday, the 13th and the lyrical content along with the dark tone Sabbath’s music, it’s not a surprise that the band would choose the date to release their very first EP. The creators of Horror Rock choose a fine Friday in 1970 when the calendar struck February 13 and Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and of course, Ozzy Osbourne went on to break all records and be the biggest legends of Rock & Roll music ever.
5. Poland finally rejects the Soviet – Era Communism
Poland embraced a new economic model for the country on Friday, July 13th in 1990 and voted to sell the state-owned companies and privatize them in the process. With the replacement of communism with radical economic reforms, the country took their inflation, a long standing and devastating problem, from a 1000% to 3.4%. The apparently unholy Friday, the 13th, marked the beginning of Poland’s prosperous journey towards the 21st century.
6. The Olympics came back to the roots
In 2004, the Summer Olympics finally came back to the place of its birth, Greece. The grand opening ceremony took place on August 13, Friday, that had 201 countries participating in the games. 4 million people watched the games being played at the original home of the Olympics.
It was the largest Olympics held till date just one game. the shot put was played in the exact original birthplace of Olympics, Olympia.
7. Artists found their biggest forum – ASCAP
Anyone who has any idea about the dos and donts of licensing in the entertainment industry would know that independent artists face quite a tough time when trying to protect their intellectual property against the corporate houses.
The artists of America were consolidated as a union for the first time when the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) was formed in February 13, 1914, a Friday.
8. Ten more countries welcomed to the European Union
When the European Council announced the enlargement plan of the European Union on Friday, December 13, 2002, ten new countries made their way into the Union.
Finally, on May 1, 2004,Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia went on to become a part of the European Union.
9. World got the most socio-economically relevant quote ever
Benjamin Franklin’s wrote one of the most interesting quotes on society and economics in 1789, Friday, November 13 and the best part it is, the words are still relevant. The famous quotes goes somewhat like this: “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in the world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.”
10. The close call with destruction in future
99942 Apophis, a near-earth asteroid was estimated to hit earth or the moon on April 13, 2029, a Friday. An asteroid the size of the Apogis, which is 325 meters, could be expected to make an impact on Earth every 80,000 years and serious damage may be caused if collision takes place.
However, it was later calculated that the asteroid, although would pass dangerously close to earth on Friday, the 13th of April, 2029, there shall not be any collision. The impact would be felt by earth approximately seven years from the event.