The Dickinson press., 1889-01-26
UNLUCKY FRIDAY.
A SUPERSTITION WHICH HAS Ex-
lSTED SINCE EARLY TIMES.

A SUPERSTITION WHICH HAS Ex-
IsTED SINCE EARLY TIMES.
Be Bad-some Of the Things to Avoid
on Friday-Others Believe It . Lucky
Day.
A belief in the i'll luck of certain days of
the year existed very early in the history Of
the world. The earliest nations have left
abound in illusions to these days, which were
marked in old Roman calendars by a black
cross. From being few in number during
the year. they increased until the path of the
superstitious was beset with minute direc-
tions as to what must be done this day, what
was to DO avoided on that day, or what was
fatal on certain black days of the year.
AT some unknown time during the middle
ages there grew up q notion that one day of
the week in particular was to be given a bad
character, by reason of which any important
undertakings, such as journeys, weddings,
business enterprises, etc., were certain to
succeed badly if undertaken on this day,
known in our calendar as Friday. No SUI
perstition has probably affected so many
people as this. To this day thousands firmly
believe in the ill luck of any Friday under
taking. Persons without superstition on any
other point will resolutely adhere to their
belief as to this particular, and quietly avoid
Friday undertakings.
There seems to be no question that this
superstition is entirely Christian in its origin,
and has particular reference to Friday as the
| 1ny Ch,.;ct c,,Ynroj ~, <l,o o,oec II 1,ooop,a
IL custom, moreover, to ascribe other biblical
events of a sinister nature to that day, and
certain manuscripts of an interesting kind
exist i'll European libraries, recapitulating
these unfortunate happenings, assigning them
to Friday, and prescribing increased penance
or abstinence on that day.
PROBABLE SOURCE OF THE BELIEF.
1t is probable that the source of these as
s%crtions concerning Friday was the Jewish
Talmud and other Jewish writings. These
make similar statements regarding these
early events i'll the history of man. The
fathers of the church perpetuated the legends,
and monkish copyists transmitted them to
posterity.
This unlucky character still clings to Fri
day in most Christian lands-it is curious
that it should also be true among tho Brah-
Minis of India. 1t is the Mohammedan Sun
day, and is not therefore an unlucky day
I with Moslems. 1t seems to have been q lucky
ono to the ancestors of the Brahmins, for it is
recorded that tho Mogul Emperor Aunurg-
zcbc said: oh! that my death may happen
on Friday, for blessed is he who dieth on that
dayI"
The things to be avoided ON IIri1.ay are not
so generally agreed upon as the character of
the day. IL most European countries mar
riagcs c%onsummated OH this day Of the week
arc sure TO be unhappy ones, and are rare;
but Germany and Scotland are exceptions, it
being there considered u lucky day to we'd.
In Lancashire, England, it is even thought II
lad day to win n bride, and the swain who
goes counting OIL that day is apt to receive
rough treatment from other SWANS. Some
times he is treated to charivari, or sercnadc,
with tin pans, horns, etc., until he pays u
money forfeit.
Journeys were rarely undertaken on Friday
during tine last century in many European
countries. They were sure to be unfortunate
i'll their termination, according to the super.
%stitious.
This phase of Fridays unpopularity par
ticularly affected sailors and fishermen. That
1T is far from extinct even today appears
from many instances of the unwillingness of
sailors to sail on this day.
/ APPLICATIONS CT THE RULE.
In very many places tho nails and hair
were never cut OH Friday, but in Holland it
was believed that you would never have tho
toothache if you trimmed the nails on that
day. a work published in England in 1881
says this was then deemed an unpropitious
day for bleeding ,p%hysicking or fort journey.
An old adage says, 'Sneeze on Friday,
give a gift" 1t was also disastrous to sing
on this day. 'Sing on Friday, weep on Sun
day" Tho i'll luck of the day was some
times, however, changed to good fortune. 1t
is deemed an excellent time, in the north of
England, to put Oh new clothes for the first
time. English milklmuids thought Friday
dreams unusually ominous.
Many persons reverse the rule, and declare
that this is to them u lucky day. Dickens
said that it was fortunate for his undertake.
ings, most of which were successful when
begun or ended Oh Friday.
1t has been claimed as u lucky day for
Amel'ica-Columbus discovered land OH that
day, tho Pilgrims landed on the Same day,
and Washington was born on Friday.
1t is only in late years that u custom
smaclsing somewhat of superstition has been
changed, that of executions on Friday. New
York took the lead i'll this respect, but it is
still hangman's day in too many states. Tho
prejudice against Friday is, of course. i'll
tcnsified in the case of Good Friday. Until
quite recently nc blacksmith in the north of
England would drive n nail Oh this, the an.
niversary of tho crucifixion. No edged tool
was used in Yorkshire, nor was it anything
but unlucky to wash clothes on that day. 1t
is alleged that a woman was hanging out
washed clothes as Christ passed by on his
To (,o1,,r,, CI,, p;,+nl +l,o oI,+no, =,
his face, and Christ not only declared her &C
cursed, but also pronounced n curse on any
ono who should choose this day for a similar
task.
In one place, it is asserted that the clothes
washed this day would be spotted with blood.
Many shoelnakers would abstain from work
on this day because of a similar curse pro
nounccd on the Jew, Cartaphilus.
In Dcvonshire, it was thought q good day
to plant crops, and in other places to com
mence weaving children.
Eggs laid on Friday will, it is said, never
decay, and will, if eaten, euro the collie.
In north Germany, it was said that if i
rained on Good Friday, the turf would b.
parchcd up three times that year.
An elder bush hung up in the house OF
that day would preserve the dwelling from
danger of lightning. 1t was also said tina
, ca~terpillars would increase if the garden wa
visited on that day. By entering the church
however, and quitting it before the blessing
!, any ono could obtain the power of seeing
, witches, and so avoid them.
Portuguese sailors have a custom of dress
ing their ship in mourning Oh this day, an
of scourging and hanging III etigy Of Juda
!, at the yard arm.-F. S. Bassett in st. LOU
| Globe democrat.
.-..
American Love for Lords.