Friday the 13th

The standard nineteenth-century explanation for the  supposed unluckiness of the number 13 was that there were thirteen at Jesus's Last Supper --Judas was generally  thought of as the thirteenth. This widely repeated  interpretation led to the fear of the number 13 in general,  and people would avoid having 13 at table or in a party.  The supposed misfortune of Friday also originated from  Christian beliefs, for the Crucifixion took place on that  day.

But both fears have their earlier roots than  Christianity was ever created. The fear of Fridays may have been connected with the Norse goddess Freya;beginning journeys on her day was considered rude to Freya and would  offend her. The number 13 has been considered ill since  ancient times. Romans linked the number to death,  destruction and misfortune. And people traditionally thought that the witch meeting had thirteen members. Someone tried to give a more reasonable explanation  for such number speculations. He noted that twelve is the  result of the two favorable numbers, three and four; but that thirteen cannot be so easily divided. Like eleven, then,  thirteen may be suspected of its supernatural quality.

NOTES:

Christian 基督教的

Crucifixion 耶稣被钉死在十字架上

Christianity 基督教

Norse 古斯堪的纳维亚的

Freya 古斯堪的纳维亚音乐女神

（Friday来自于Freya的名字）

Witch 女巫

speculation 推测

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