Friday the 13th in Full Moon Phase...

So, it's Friday the 13^th and we are in Full Moon phase...

Public Domain Photograph

If there is any connection between a full moon and the date, we should be entertained as the day wears on.  I mean really, if there's going to be a zombie apocalypse, what better day to start one than right now?

Of course, our esteemed scientists will tell you there's no correlation between the weird and frantic during a full moon. However, my husband mentioned on more than one occasion--while working graveyard patrol at the police department--the presence of a full moon seemed far more chaotic and people behaved in a more irrational manner than on any other day of the lunar month. Hospitals can fall victim to the bizarre as well.

Did you know there have only been about 10 full moons on Friday the 13^th between 1903 to June of 2014? Today will mark the eleventh.  Actually the official full moon was yesterday, but we are still in the full moon phase. But the next time a full moon and Friday the 13^th actually coincide on the exact same day will be August 13^th 2049.  A lot of us probably won’t be here to see it though, perhaps due to that zombie apocalypse or something like age... ;D

So, how often do we experience the unlucky and dreaded 13^th day of the month falling on a Friday?  Well let’s check beginning with August of 2010, which is the only Friday the 13^th fell in that year. The final tally is 12, through May of 2016 with two occurring this past year.

Paraskavedekatriaphobia, (a major nightmare in any spelling bee) is the name given to those who fear Friday the 13^th.  Paraskavedekatriaphobia  is a scary word in its own right, and I'm not even going attempt to say it out loud.

Friday the 13th is considered the unluckiest day(s) of the year on the Gregorian calendar. The fearsome reputation of this day probably came from the middle ages. Many believe that the possible origins came from the Bible. Regardless of origin, there are those who are quick to point out that on Friday the 13th:

Philip IV of France ordered the arrest and dissolution of the Knight's Templar in October of 1307. The execution of the Templar Grandmaster occurred on Friday the 13th as well. At this time he cursed his prosecutors, the Pope, and King of France. Friday, November 13, 1970 the deadliest tropical cyclone in recorded history made its appearance. Then we have the Friday the 13th blizzard that dumped 22 inches of snow in New York in OCTOBER... How about the Friday the 13th in Suffolk England, when a 13 year old boy was struck by lightning? Or that awful Friday the 13th in 1996 when Tupac Shakur was murdered in Las Vegas? The list does go on.

Full moons occur every 29.5 days, and when it occurs twice in a month it is a blue moon. The weird and strange attached to the full moon probably has its origins in folklore and myth. Strange behavior noted on full moons may date back to early interpretation of pagan activities during this phase of the moon.

As most of us know, many pagan beliefs center on the full moon. Stories in folklore and myth attribute the full moon to unearthly and terrifying events, as well as weird animal and human behavior.  After all the full-moon and werewolves just seem to belong together, right?

Alex Stevens Dark Shadows Public Domain

Anyway enjoy today's  Friday the 13^th, the first of 2017. While you're at it, keep an eye out for zombies and werewolves. because--you know--the full moon thing. And do let me know if you see any...