Friday the 13th, Figgy Pudding, and Bartolus de Saxoferrato

You may recall that triskaidekaphobia means "a morbid fear of the number 13." The Lemming speculates that a great deal depends on what the reader thinks is "morbid" — which, oddly enough, is not what an auctioneer wants when asking for more bids.

If anything, the Lemming thinks we should be afraid that Friday the 13th might not appear. Think of the calamitous consequences, should Thursday the 12th suddenly encounter Saturday the 14th. The force of that impact might dislodge dates, and maybe even figs.

And, speaking of figgy pudding: Why would carolers demand a 16th century English pudding? It would have gone stale by now.

Finally, the Lemming suggests a more broad-minded approach to irrational fears. Why, after all, should one be limited to fearing the the 13th only when it falls on a Friday. Imagine the possibilities if, for example, one were to become obsessed with next month's Sunday the 13th.

It was on July 13, 1357, that Bartolus de Saxoferrato died. This eminent professor of law was, ominously, born in the year 1313. If that's not enough to scare you: well, the Lemming tried, and that's all one do.

Which reminds the Lemming of the Doobie Brothers, and a perdurably persistent Hanna-Barbera cartoon which, oddly enough, actually does include the occasional strangers in the night. Some of which are stranger than others.

Posts, related and otherwise:

• "Friday the 13th, Poetry, and a Rambling Lemming"
  (September 13, 2013)
• "Lemming Tracks: Triskaidekaphobia and a Rambling Lemming"
  (January 13, 2012)
• "Eleven; and Why is Six Afraid of Seven?"
  (November 11, 2011)
• "How to Not Sound Crazy - or - THE PARANOIDS ARE AFTER ME!!!"
  (June 12, 2011)
• "Dutch Statisticians: Friday the 13th is - Lucky?!"
  (June 13, 2008)