“Fun Facts” and “Personal Experience”
The Origin of Friday the 13th: Massacre of the Knights Templar
The most popular legend is that King Phillip IV of France and Pope Clement V conspired to eliminate the political threat, and seize the massive wealth, of the Knights Templar. So, on Friday, October 13th, 1307, hundreds of Knights Templar were captured, tortured, and executed. Most were burned at the stake. The Pope officially disbanded the religious order, and the Pope and the King split the bounty.
(The Knights Templar were the “bankers” for the Crusades. To avoid getting robbed going to or from the Holy Land, crusaders and pilgrims deposited their money with an Order of Knights Templar. The Knights issued a “bank check” that could be redeemed via a Knights Templar Order at the end of their journey. It was an ingenious system. However, so many crusaders and pilgrims were killed that the Knights Templar “inherited” the deposited money. Thus, the Order of Knights Templar, who had taken individual vows of poverty, became wealthier than kings and popes.)
My Lucky Day
For most people, Friday the 13th is their unlucky day. That’s why some buildings don’t have a 13th floor. Friday the 13th is my lucky day. I am informed:
- My mother was born on Friday the 13th (Jan 13, 1921)
- My parents got married on Friday the 13th (Feb 13, 1947)
- I graduated from Jr. High School on Friday the 13th (Jun 13, 1965 )
- I graduated from High School on Friday the 13th (Jun 13, 1969)
- I got engaged to be married on Friday the 13th (Jun 13, 1976)
- I was sworn in as a judge on Friday the 13th (Jan 13, 1989)
- I was assigned to Department 13 of West Court which is on 13th street, in Westminster, California.
My co-workers encourage me to buy lottery tickets on Friday, the 13th, but I keep forgetting. Maybe I should “try my luck.”
(www.londonedition.net)
The London Edition 