Friday the 13th, also known as Black Friday, is considered an unlucky day in Western superstition. It occurs when the 13th day of the month in the Gregorian calender falls on a Friday.
HOW IT ALL STARTED
- The superstition surrrounding this day may have arise in the middle ages, originating from the story of Jesus’ last supper and crucifixion in which there were 13 individuals present in the upper room on the 13th of Nisan Maundy Thursday, the night before His death on Good Friday. Thomas W. Lawson in his popular novel: Friday, the thirteenth contributed to disseminating the superstition.
ACCIDENT ATTRACTION
- A study in the British Medical Journal, published in 1993, concluded that there is a significant level of traffic related incidences on the Friday the 13th as opposed to any other Friday. However, the Dutch center for insurance Statistics (CVS) on the 12th of June 2008 stated that “fewer accidents and reports of theft occur when the 13th of the month falls on Friday than other Fridays because people are preventatively more careful or just stay at home”. Statistically speaking, driving is slightly safer on Friday the 13th, Dutch insurers received reports of an average of 7800 traffic accidents each Friday; but the average figure when the 13thfell on a Friday was just 7500.
- In Nigeria, studies have shown that road traffic accidents occurs more in December, January and February. however no particular day is known for a higher rate of occurrence. Its a general conception that as Friday marks the end of working week, people tend to travel, go out for relaxation purposes, thus creating busy roads.
The doctor at the emergency department meets these accidents victims everyday and struggles to save their lives. However, beware of Friday the 13th.
REFERENCES: LIFE IN THE FAST LANE PUBLICATIONS, WIKIPEDIA, A. H RAFINDADI
