The Magic of the Horse-shoe, with other folk-lore notesLawrence, Robert Means
History
The Magic of the Horse-shoe, with other folk-lore notes
Lawrence, Robert Means
Folklore
In Scotland this number is known as the “Deil’s Dozen,” a phrase which
has been supposed to have some connection with card-playing, there being
thirteen cards in each suit of the “Deil’s Books.” John Jamieson, in
his Scottish Dictionary, avows his inability to trace the superstition
to its source, but believes that it includes the idea of the thirteenth
being the Devil’s lot. The number thirteen is also sometimes known as
a “baker’s dozen,” because it was formerly a common practice to give
thirteen loaves for twelve, the extra piece being called the _in-bread_
or _to-bread_. This custom is supposed to have originated at a time when
heavy fines were imposed for short weights, the additional bread being
given by bakers as a precautionary measure.[551]
In certain cases, contrary to the general rule, thirteen is accounted a
fortunate numeral, or even as one possessing extraordinary virtues.
Dr. Daniel G. Brinton, in “A Primer of Mayan Hieroglyphics” (p. 25), says
that in the old language of the Mayas, an aboriginal tribe of Yucatan,
the numbers nine and thirteen were used to denote indefinite greatness
and supreme excellence. Thus a very fortunate man was possessed of nine
souls, and the phrase, “thirteen generations old,” conveyed the idea of
perpetuity. The “Demon with thirteen powers” was a prominent figure in
the mythology of the Tzentals, a Mayan tribe.
According to a widely prevalent popular impression, a brood is usually
odd in number, and therefore it is folly to set an even number of eggs
under a hen. In spite of the falsity of this idea, it is still quite
customary to set thirteen eggs, an even number in this case being
accounted unlucky.
Gerald Massey, in “The Natural Genesis,” remarks that “there were
thirteen kinds of spices set out in the Jewish religious service, along
with the zodiacal number of twelve loaves of shew-bread. There are
thirteen articles to the Hebrew faith, and the Cabalists have thirteen
rules by which they are enabled to penetrate the mysteries of the Hebrew
Scriptures. Thirteen are the dialectical canons of the Talmudical doctors
for determining the sense of the law in all civil and ecclesiastical
cases.”
In England the day of twenty-four hours was formerly divided into
thirteen parts, as follows:—
1. After midnight.
2. Cock-crow.
3. Between the first cock-crow and daybreak.
4. The dawn.
5. Morning.
6. Noon.
7. Afternoon.
8. Sunset.
9. Twilight.
10. Evening.
11. Candle-time.
12. Bed-time.
13. Dead of night.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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