Full Moon on #Fridaythe13th! ~ Why It's Rare + Extra-Spooky! #Friday13th History #Superstitions #FullMoon #Triskaidekaphobia

For fans of all things spooky, it doesn't get much more exciting than a Friday the 13th coinciding with a nationwide full moon...an occurrence that hasn't happened since 2000, and won't happen again until 2049!  A September full moon is known as the harvest moon, meaning it's the closest to the autumnal equinox on Sept. 23rd.  As someone who writes paranormal romantic suspense, usually involving desperate ghosts and mysterious hauntings, it's reason to celebrate.  Plus, you know, it's Friday! 

I embraced the number 13 long ago, since it is the date of my birth,

and there have been many years (including this one, in January) that my birthday fell on a Friday the 13th!  

A fear of the number 13 is known as Triskaidekaphobia.  I actually once worked in a building that lacked a 13th floor.  To me, this made little sense...did the people on the 14th floor not realize they were actually on the 13th floor?  Still, the button in the elevator did not exist.  Why does the number 13 get such a bad rap, anyway?

Some reasons stem from various religions.  In Christianity, for example, 13 people sat down to The Last Supper: Jesus Christ and 12 disciples.  The last to sit down, the 13th, was Judas Iscariot, who would betray Jesus. 

According to Norse legends, the 13th (uninvited) guest to arrive at a banquet of the gods was Loki, who then killed another god and set in motion a series of tragedies.

Historically, condemned people climbed 13 steps to the gallows.

A coven was traditionally made up of 13 witches.

In the deck of tarot cards, XIII is the card of death - a pale horse and rider.

Apollo 13 was the only unsuccessful mission to the moon; the oxygen tank exploded, putting the lives of the astronauts at risk.

Finally, 12 is considered a perfect and magical number in many disciplines and traditions.  There are 12 months, 12 zodiac signs, 12 days of Christmas, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles of Christ, 12 principal Olympian gods of the pantheon...the list goes on and on.  It follows, then, in some people's minds, that to add a number to 12 would make it unlucky.

That Friday the 13th is particularly scary may be the result of Friday's connection with executions.  The Crucifixion took place on a Friday, which was the day of the week executions were generally carried out in Rome.  America also has a history of holding executions on Fridays; thus, a day that combines two "unlucky" features becomes even more ominous.

If you feel like a full moon Friday the 13th is the perfect time for a ghost mystery, try one of my paranormal romantic suspense novels ~ many of them #1 Amazon and B&N Bestsellers:  Silver Lake, Gull Harbor, Haunted Souls, and The Haunting of Hillwood Farm.

And, one of my titles is FREE today on Kindle!  It happens to be the only book I've written without paranormal elements, but in this steamy romantic suspense, there's a very real killer...along with dark secrets and chilling revelations.  Grab your copy of Dangerous Currents on Kindle while it's free!  Happy Reading and Happy Friday the 13th ~ stay safe!

Ghost Mystery/Reunion Romance SILVER LAKE
has the perfect cover for today!