Folklore: Friday the 13th Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What psychological term is associated with the fear of the number 13?

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia

Friggatriskaidekaphobia

Triskaidekaphobia (correct)

Paraskavedekatriaphobia

Which significant biblical event is linked to the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th?

The Exodus from Egypt

The Last Supper (correct)

The flood

The Tower of Babel

What did the ancient Code of Hammurabi reportedly omit that contributes to the negative perception of the number 13?

A 13th chapter

A 13th law (correct)

A 13th tribe

A 13th king

How has Friday been traditionally viewed in relation to bad luck?

As a day of betrayal Signup and view all the answers

Which event is NOT mentioned as contributing to the negative associations with Fridays?

The Last Supper Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the fear of Friday the 13th specifically?

Paraskavedekatriaphobia Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of the number 12 is often contrasted with the number 13?

It is considered complete Signup and view all the answers

In what century did the secret society known as the Thirteen Club emerge?

19th century Signup and view all the answers

What major event occurred on Friday the 13th in September 1940?

The German bombing of Buckingham Palace Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following events is NOT associated with Friday the 13th?

Bombing of Pearl Harbor Signup and view all the answers

How many people died in the cyclone in Bangladesh that occurred on a Friday the 13th?

300,000 Signup and view all the answers

What date marked the death of rapper Tupac Shakur, which also fell on a Friday the 13th?

September 1996 Signup and view all the answers

Which event involved the crash of a cruise ship on a Friday the 13th?

The crash of the Costa Concordia Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary goal of Captain William Fowler when he founded the Thirteen Club?

To eliminate the stigma associated with the number 13 Signup and view all the answers

Which phrase was displayed on the banner that members of the Thirteen Club passed beneath?

Morituri te Salutamus Signup and view all the answers

Which former U.S. president was NOT a member of the Thirteen Club?

William McKinley Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant event related to Friday the 13th that occurred in 1307?

The arrest of the Knights Templar Signup and view all the answers

What was the title of the novel published in 1907 that contributed to the Friday the 13th legend?

Friday, the Thirteenth Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following items was NOT a result of the Friday the 13th horror movie released in 1980?

Television series Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary motivation for King Philip IV to arrest the Knights Templar?

Access to their financial resources Signup and view all the answers

Which character is famously associated with the horror movie Friday the 13th?

Jason Voorhees Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Fear of 13

Negative superstitions around the number 13 span centuries and are common in Western cultures.
Ancient views on the number 12 associate it with completeness, highlighting 13 as a sign of bad luck.
The Code of Hammurabi famously omitted a 13th law, reinforcing superstition about the number.
Triskaidekaphobia designates the fear of the number 13.

Why is Friday the 13th Unlucky?

Friday the 13th's unluckiness is linked to the Last Supper, where 13 guests included Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus.
Good Friday, marking Jesus' crucifixion, falls after Maundy Thursday, cementing fears.
Other unfortunate events associated with Friday include Eve's offering of the forbidden fruit and Cain murdering Abel.

The Thirteen Club

Founded in the late 19th century by Captain William Fowler to counteract the stigma of the number 13.
The club regularly dined on the 13th day of the month, specifically in room 13.
Members engaged in superstitious practices, such as passing under a ladder before having a 13-course meal.
Four U.S. presidents—Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, and Theodore Roosevelt—were members.

Friday the 13th in Pop Culture

Thomas William Lawson’s 1907 novel "Friday, the Thirteenth" sparked interest in the superstition, centering on Wall Street chaos.
The 1980 horror film "Friday the 13th" features Jason, a masked killer, and significantly popularized the superstition.
The film led to numerous sequels, adaptations in various media, and pervasive Halloween costumes.

Notable Events on Friday the 13th

October 13, 1307: King Philip IV of France arrested many Knights Templar, linking their fate to the superstition.
Significant occurrences on this date include:
- German bombing of Buckingham Palace in September 1940.
- Murder of Kitty Genovese in March 1964.
- A cyclone in Bangladesh, killing over 300,000 in November 1970.
- Disappearance of a Chilean Air Force plane in 1972.
- Death of rapper Tupac Shakur in September 1996.
- Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster in January 2012, resulting in 30 fatalities.

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Description

Explore the eerie lore surrounding Friday the 13th, a day often seen as unlucky. This quiz delves into the fear of the number 13, its impact on culture, and interesting facts about this day throughout history. Test your knowledge on its significance and popular representations in media.