UNLUCKY FRIDAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 February 1939, Page 10

UNLUCKY FRIDAY

SOME LEGENDS. With reference to the superstition about Friday as an “unlucky day,” it is well known that it is a firm belief among old seamen that they must never put to sea on a Friday. They would rather lose that day’s pay than do so. To leave the safety of a port on that day meant that something disastrous would occur. Once Norsemen considered Friday the luckiest day of the week. That was correct many long years ago, for, although Friday was considered the best day suited for marriages, the custom of having weddings on this day was not given up until the idea grew that the day upon which our Lord was crucified must be an unlucky one.

The origin of Friday is of interest. The old Norse legends show two goddesses who are connected with the sixth day of the week. One, Frigga, was looked upon as being the ruler of the sea and protector of ships. Thus the sixth day of the week was held sacred to her, and became known as “Frigga’s Day,” whence came our Friday. Another tale states that Freya, the goddess of love and beauty, gave us our Friday. Freya gathered together a number of widowed women and husbands who had lost their wives and had them married again. After a time the Norse folk concluded that Frigga and Freya must be the same person. Thus “Frigga’s Day” became “Freya’s Day.”