Bloop! Bloop!
It’s Friday the 13th, and while the rest of the world is dodging black cats, avoiding ladders, and tiptoeing around cracks in the sidewalk β we Turtles are doing what we always do: having fun and not taking life too seriously.
But since it IS the spookiest day on the calendar, let’s have a little fun with it.
So What’s the Big Deal About Friday the 13th?
The superstition goes way back β and like most good stories, there are a few versions.
The Last Supper Connection: There were 13 guests at the Last Supper, and things didn’t exactly end well. Jesus was crucified on a Friday, and Judas β the betrayer β is often counted as the unlucky 13th guest. Put Friday and 13 together, and you’ve got a recipe for superstition that’s lasted over 2,000 years.
The Knights Templar: On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered the mass arrest of the Knights Templar. Hundreds of knights were seized, tortured, and eventually executed. If that’s not an unlucky Friday, we don’t know what is.
Norse Mythology: The trickster god Loki crashed a dinner party in Valhalla as the uninvited 13th guest. His arrival led to chaos and the death of the beloved god Balder. Classic Loki.
The Name You Can’t Pronounce: The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia. Go ahead, try saying that three times fast. We’ll wait.
Friday the 13th by the Numbers
Friday the 13th can happen up to three times in a single year
Many buildings skip the 13th floor entirely β going straight from 12 to 14
Some airports have no Gate 13, and hotels skip Room 13
An estimated 17 to 21 million Americans have a genuine fear of this day
Businesses have estimated losses of $800 to $900 million on Friday the 13ths because people avoid travel, purchases, and even going to work
Famous Friday the 13th Moments
October 13, 1307 β The arrest of the Knights Templar (the big one)
March 13, 1992 β A massive earthquake struck eastern Turkey
January 13, 1939 β The Black Friday bushfires devastated parts of Australia
October 13, 1972 β A Uruguayan Air Force plane crashed in the Andes (later became the story behind the movie Alive)
November 13, 2015 β Terrorist attacks struck Paris
Not exactly a track record that inspires confidence.
But Here’s the Thing…
Turtles have been around for over 200 million years. We’ve survived ice ages, asteroid impacts, and whatever the Mesozoic Era threw at us. You think a little calendar superstition is going to rattle our shells?
Not a chance.
In fact, we’d argue that Friday the 13th is actually lucky β because it falls on a FRIDAY. And what do Turtles do on Fridays? We get together, share riddles, and enjoy life. That sounds like the opposite of bad luck to us.
How to Survive Friday the 13th Like a Turtle
- Stay in your shell β Not out of fear, but because sometimes a cozy day in is just what you need
- Share a riddle β Nothing breaks a superstition like a good laugh (head over to our Social Log!)
- Wear your Turtle gear β Consider it your lucky armor for the day
- Find your Pond β Bad luck doesn’t stand a chance against 2,774 Turtles strong
- Remember the Turtle motto β Are You A Turtle? You Bet Your Sweet Ass I Am! If that’s not a power move against bad luck, nothing is
Speaking of Lucky β St. Patrick’s Day is Tuesday! π
You survived Friday the 13th. Now it’s time to celebrate!
Join us for our St. Patrick’s Day Virtual Pond Gathering on Tuesday, March 17th at 8:00 PM EST on Zoom. Whether you’re wearing green, sipping something Irish, or just looking for a good time with fellow Turtles β we want to see you there.
Because what’s luckier than a four-leaf clover? A Pond full of Turtles on St. Paddy’s Day.
π Register for the Gathering β Don’t miss it!
The Real Question
Forget Friday the 13th. We’ve got a more important question for you:
If I miss, I might hit your bush. It’s my job to stuff your box. When I come, it’s news.
What am I?
Think you know? Share your answer on our Social Log!
Stay Lucky, Turtles!
Friday the 13th is just another day β unless you’re a Turtle, in which case it’s another day to have fun, connect with your Pond, and remind the world that we don’t take ourselves too seriously.
And hey β if you make it through today unscathed, reward yourself by joining us Tuesday night for the St. Patrick’s Day Gathering. We promise it’ll be more fun than avoiding ladders all day.
Bloop! Bloop!
Are You A Turtle? π’
