Today marks Friday the 13th. Many, if not most, believe this day is associated with "bad luck." I recently discovered that Friday the 13th is COMPLETELY NOT. It was a special day for women, at least not until our patriarchal society and religion had something to do with it...
Turns out, Friday the 13th is actually devoted to celebrating the feminine side that everyone embodies, in both women AND men. It was a day to honor women and creation. The 13 had a female connotation behind it. According to James Like Hale, in his article, "How Did Friday The 13th Start? It Used To Be A Celebration Of All Things Feminine, But Patriarchy Ruins Everything, the number symbolized the mean of a woman's cycle annually and the number of cycles of the moon annually, which was seen as female based on religions worshipping nature. Friday the 13th got its bad rap beginning with religion in the Middle Ages. Christians believed Jesus died on a Friday, therefore, causing them to view each Friday negatively. With this idea already in people's mind, add in the event of Apollo 13. On this third mission to land on the Moon, an explosion occurred, where an oxygen tank was ruptured and depleted oxygen rapidly. Together, they created the bad rap of Friday the 13th we hear so often.
It sickens me to know that there was a day for women, yet none of us know it. After a while, what people hear becomes the reality of what people know. I never really questioned why Friday the 13th was unlucky. I just heard it was. Unlucky, scary, and bloody were the words that popped into my head whenever the day shows up in a month of the year. Never have I ever wanted or asked why.
Now, I'm going to turn over a new leaf and see this day for the better. For us, women. A day for women remains a day for women. No matter how much society alters our views. I know it is not easy to see this day as something other than unlucky, but with some time, it will be seen for women.
To add to the positivity of this day and to female power, Sarah Oh, a Korean-Canadian actress, was the first Asian to be nominated for an Emmy. This sheds a new break in the entertainment industry, as few women gain recognition and lead roles in the entertainment industry, let alone Asians. To hear about this nomination truly is a beautiful accomplishment for women and Asians. Women and Asians are not given enough credit. It is time to recognize the women in this world who do selfless acts, no matter how small or big, and the Asians who have lots to say but little platforms to be heard. Acknowledge them. See them without prejudice.
P.S. If you like to read the article, here is the link. Enjoy!
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