Post by Joanna on Nov 13, 2015 19:09:36 GMT -5
13 Weird Friday the 13th Incidents
Happy Friday the 13th! In Western Culture, Friday the 13th is traditionally considered a day of massive bad luck and evil. There are different theories as to the origins of the associations of this particular day. Some theorize the concept arose in the Middle Ages as significant of the Last Supper, where 13 disciples shared the final meal of Jesus Christ. Regardless of its origins, Friday the 13th is imbued with cultural significance and has created a particularly famous film franchise. Though not as many people actually believe in the superstition nowadays, it’s still fun to indulge in the spooky vibe of the day, particularly when you consider all the strange and abnormal things that have happened on Friday the 13th. Give in to your creepy side and check out the strange and mysterious history of this day.
1. Space Debris Colliding with Earth. On Friday, November 13, 2015, NASA announced a piece of space debris, likely a rocket body, would enter the Earth’s atmosphere over Sri Lanka.
2. Cruise Ship Sinks. No, the Titanic didn't sink on Friday the 13th. Rather, Costa Concordia, an Italian cruise ship carrying in excess of 4,000 passengers struck a reef and began to capsize on Friday, January 13, 2012. The majority of passengers were rescued, though several died. The captain was later convicted for abandoning his ship instead of aiding in the evacuation.
3. Evolution Becomes Illegal. On May 13, 1925, the state of Tennessee passed a law making it illegal to teach the theory of evolution in schools. The law remained intact until 1967.
4. Attack on Knights Templar. On October 13, 1307, thousands of members of the Knights Templar were killed on order of King Louis IV. Fortunately, a few of them must have lived or the National Treasure movies never could have been made. Some theorize this massacre is the origin of the fear of the date.
5. Avoiding the Day Gets You Nowhere. Reportedly, on August 13, 1976, a man named Daz Baxter chose to stay home in bed because it was Friday the 13th and he feared if he went out something terrible would happen. Unfortunately, while at home, the floor of his apartment collapsed and he fell six stories to his death.
6. End of the Aztec Empire. The Aztec civilization, known for its incredible architecture and culture, met its end on Friday, August 13, 1521. Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, captured the Aztec ruler and appointed himself the new leader, effectively ending the civilization.
7. Terrible Plane Crash. On October 13, 1972, a plane carrying 45 passengers crashed in South America. Some managed to survive the crash, but they were lost in the Andes Mountain range and forced to resort to cannibalism in order to survive until they were rescued 72 days later.
8. Record-Breaking Blizzard. Upstate New York is not an area unfamiliar with snow, many feeling it gets more than its fair share. But on October 13, 2006, a record-shattering blizzard struck Buffalo, leaving the city under 22 inches of snow and more than a million people without power.
9. Boy Struck By Lightning. A 13-year-old boy in Suffolk, England, was struck by lighting Friday, August 13, 2010. As if things couldn’t get any weirder, the lightning reportedly hit at 1:13 p.m. (13:13 military time). The boy survived.
10. Murder of Kitty Genovese. On March 13, 1964, a Queens, New York, woman named Kitty Genovese was followed, stabbed and eventually murdered and the incident is infamous to this day. As the New York Times reported, the attack was witnessed by 38 people and not one intervened.
11. ‘Mini’ Stock Market Crash. On Friday, October 13, 1989, a $6.9 billion dollar buyout deal with United Airlines fell through. The Dow Jones, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 all plunged, resulting in an incredibly low closeout that day. This day is often cited as the beginning of a recession in the early 1990s.
12. Murder of Tupac Shakur. Mystery and doubt still cloud the murder of prolific rapper Tupac Shakur, who was shot and killed September 13, 1996. Conspiracy theorists continue to discuss numerous scenarios concerning his death.
13. Asteroid will Pass Earth. Friday the 13th is the gift that never stops giving. On April 13, 2029, residents of Earth can expect to see the asteroid “2004 MN4” pass “scarily” close to the planet – so close people will be able to view the asteroid with the naked eye.
Source: Kate Fustich, Bustle, November 13, 2015.