Are you superstitious? Do some days and numbers truly mean bad or good luck?
From wordspy, we learn that paraskevidekatriaphobia means fear of Friday the 13th. If you’re a little behind in your Greek studies, paraskevi means Friday, dekatria means 13, and phobia means fear.
How might one pronounce that mouthful? Try this: pair.uh.skee.vee.dek.uh.tree.uh.FOH.bee.uh
Those who fear Friday the 13th only have one to worry about this year; more days appear in other years.
The Greeks don’t really otherwise have names for their days, I’m told. Since we’re having this lovely Word Nerd Moment, allow me to quote from friesan.com, who states that
[i]n Modern Greek, the days are also numbered, and the 7th is still the Sabbath (Savvato), but the 1st day is now Kyriakê, the Lord’s day. Interestingly, the 6th day in Greek is Paraskeuê, the “Preparation.” This is actually the Jewish term, as preparation is made on the 6th day for the Sabbath — preserved in a language today almost entirely of Christians, but formerly of many Jews in the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
If you have a long commute or need a bedtime story, print out this history of Friday the 13th. Fascinating.
Far more fascinating is this nifty little vid.
Print out and laminate those days flashcards at the bottom of the page while you’re humming along.
Off you go.
Filed under: Teacher Tips
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