The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-18
IMPORTANT EVENTS PROVE 1T
OTHERWISE

For one reason or another, Friday,
from time beyond all reliable history
or tradition, has been reckoned an un-
lucky day by nearly all the various
branches of the Aryan family of ma
tions, embracing the Greek, Latin,
Celtic, Teutonic and Slavonic races, or,
IN other words, the ancestors of nearly
all the present populations of Europe
and America. This was the case long
before any of these races were Chris
TANNED. Even in ancient Oriental
lands there was, and still is, a belief
IN Friday as an unlucky day. The Ro-
man classed Friday as a day on which
the courts were forbidden to sit; and
it was one Of the unlucky days of that
sort on which worship Of the gods, or,
at least, religious feasts, We're never
celebrated.
After the introduction of Christianity
the day still became more obnoxious to
the people because 1t was held that
Christ expired on the cross on Friday,
April 8, 80 A. D., by Usher's Chronol-
ogy, but according to later authorities,
March Is, 20 A. D.; by the chronology
used by the compilers of the Interna-
t1onal Sunday school lessons, the date
is Friday, April Z, A. D. 80, between z
and a. m. The fact that Friday is
associated with the passion Of Christ
and that 1t Is a day of abstinence in
the Catholic church has had to do with
keeping up the feeling
In Bla1rS "Chronology'-Bla was a
Scotchman, and, therefore, most exact
IN his methods-the first date set down
IS that winch announces the creation of
Adam and Even on Friday, Oct 81,
4OO4 b. c., at p m. BY an act of the
EngnSh parliament it was officially de-
clared that the creation of the world
dated 1904 years before Christ.
Friday was the festival day of the
scandinavian goddess Freya, the north
ern Venus, wife Of Odin. Those who
disregard the observance Of her day to
carry on their own pursuits were often
visited with misfortune The super
suuon remained after the explanation
had been forgotten.
Friday was the most popular day
Tor weddings among the Jews in me-
dlaeVal times, and it's selection ap-
pears TO nave been due to expediency,
because OF its nearneSs to the Jewish
Sabbath and the convenience of asso-
clatlng the marriage ceremony with
the services in the synagogue on the
latter day.
Among the Mohammedans Friday is
considered the best and luckiest day in
the calendar. With them it is the most
popular day for beginning any enter
prise OF Importance, whether building
a mouse, planting a garden, embark
Ing on a voyage or journey, contracting
a marriage or making a garment. Fri
DAY is the Sabbath of the Moslems
corresponding to the Sunday of the
christians and the Saturday of the
Jews From time, immemoriaI Friday
q do
assemblages, civil as we'll as religious,
among the Arabs.
IL seems that in very early times in
the history of English Jurisprudence
IL became a cmmon practice in Sc
!ect1ng day for the execution of Grim
1nals to choose a Friday. This prac-
tlce was transplanted to the courts of
america america In colonial times, and has
oeen generally, though not invariably.
observed ever since, not only in the
original thirteen states, but in all the
states. There is no statutory provf-
sion, so far as known, making it oh
llSatory on judges to follow this old
custom The fact remains that the
superstition that Friday is an un-
lucky day Is so deeply rooted in the
MINDS OF thousands of intelligent edu-
Gated people that they cannot be in
duced to set sail on a voyage, start on
any kind of journey or commence any
new enterprise on that day Of the week
A study of the subject Will show that
the belief is not confined to the ig-
norant.
In France great Importance is at
tached to unlucky Friday, yet in re-
viewing the history of the Dreyfus per
secution it is seen that the prisoner
Jared better on Friday than on some
more popular days of the week.
That the French people share fully
the general distrust of unlucky Friday
is shown in many ways. Those who
are familiar with life in Paris are
aware that tastefully ornamental cards
with list Of unlucky days and "hours
to be avoided" find a ready sale in the
streets. This indicates the general
prevalence of superstitious notions in
the French capital. The late Presi-
dent Felix Faure, of France, it is said
was to an extent not widely known
ruled by superstition. 1t was his Gus
tom to avoid Friday as day for en-
barking on journey or undertaking
any important enterprise. He frequent-
~ consulted card readers and fortune
tellers. The great French orator and
statesman, Gambetta, was similarly