Today in Italy is the equivalent of Friday the 13th in other parts of the world, unlucky if you are superstitious. Here in Italy the number 17 has the same unlucky significance that other places such as the UK and USA give to the number 13. To keep bad luck away some people carry a little golden horn as a charm or use the phrase “tocca ferro” “touching metal,” (preferably iron) the equivalent of our “touching wood”.
In fact the number 13 is considered lucky in Italy apart from one time when it is considered unlucky, which is to have thirteen persons at the meal table, but I remember this superstition from the UK also. This superstition goes back to the Last Supper of Jesus and the Apostles.
The number 17 is associated with bad luck in Italy because the Roman Numerals XVII are an anagram of the Latin word VIXI – ‘I Was Alive’ note the past tense! It can be used in the sense of saying “My life is over”
A Friday the 17th occurring in November, turns the whole month into the month of the deceased and is considered particularly unlucky. As November 2nd is memorial day for the dead in Italy.
I am not very observant in that I have never noticed if the Italians miss out the number 17 when numbering houses and flats, but I do know that Alitalia does not have a seat number 17 on its aircraft.
I will take special care today then and Tocca Ferro.
I am also enjoying the sunshine and slow thaw accompanied by the first signs of Spring, the first Japonica flowers and the Mimosa starting to show yellow despite the snow.
Some of the content today is taken from my original post written and posted here in September 2010 Friday 17th
Tocca Ferro that you will have a good day. I have never heard of this before so I have certainly learnt something new. Thanks Diane x
ReplyDeleteGreat banner photograph.
ReplyDeleteI'll be tocca ferro that we all have a good day today!
Wishing you good luck today!!! Carry a piece of iron around with you!
ReplyDeletexo,
RJ
Very interesting and useful to know. I had two days to choose from for my closing on my apartment--today and next week. I was told that the notaio would be very reluctant to do the closing today. I of course chose the other date. Tocca ferro, e buona fortuna a tutti.
ReplyDeleteI found this post very interesting, not having heard of the significance of 17 before.
ReplyDeleteToday, spring came, with your great photos!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for so interesting informations for No 17 in Italy!!!!
First time in my life, learn it.
Tanti saluti
Ciao
Wonderful photos, I'm not superstitious, nor with the thirteenth or anything. Greetings.
ReplyDeleteI never knew this, veryu interesting, I see on the news you are having lots of snow in Italy,, I'm so sorry, hopefully your gardens survive,
ReplyDeleteHow interesting! Of course, I didn't know this. I'm glad to see you're getting a thaw. I have daffodils about to bloom. It looks so strange to me.
ReplyDeleteI never believed in the thing about Venerdi` 17! Or... Friday 13th, or anything like that!
ReplyDelete13 and especially 16 are very lucky numbers indeed, in Italy, but black cats (which I LOVE) ... BIG NO NO! Poor things! If a black cat crosses the road in front of you, as you are walking, something terrible is going to happen and remember never to walk under a ladder or open an umbrella indoors. And Lindy... those bottles of oil of yours... never, ever drop and smash one (very unlucky!)
Tocca Ferro, the weather will get warmer and warmer as you would expect in Italy!
I love the little japonica and the mimosa (so fragrant and delicate!) You'll have to give a little sprig of that your girlfriends, in March, when it's La Giornata Internazionale Della Donna!
BUONA SERATA!
ANNA
xx
Very interesting post, and be sure to tocca Ferro! ( Just in case)
ReplyDeleteThe date is only a number, after all. Sometimes it is better to be oblivious to these old wives' tales, but the nugget about the Roman numerals and the anagram was interesting.
ReplyDeleteMimosa is beautiful! I haven't seen mimisa in such a long time!
ReplyDeleteLindy, I am not sure about all those numbers, however Tocca Ferro...
I never knew this about the number 17!
ReplyDeleteI do almost always wear my little gold horn though.
I've done so for almost all my life.
Love your images here LindyLou.
Sending you wishes for a beautiful weekend!
It must be wonderful to see signs of Spring! I hope to read through your previous posts soon. It's time to catch up. Tocca Ferro!
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting post. I can see why a superstitious person might be concerned. Glad that you're not. How good to have those hopeful signs of spring after an unusually chilly year.
ReplyDeleteBy now the unlucky day is long past where you are. I hope you stayed safe!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it doesn't depend on the region, because Mr. G. never heard about the bad luck of the n° 17, but knows the 13 and especially Friday 13.
ReplyDeleteMaybe in Northern Italy they have other uses, anyway each region has its own. It had been very cold in the region of the Garda lake too.
Very interesting entry. I knew about the 17th of Friday for Italians in Italy, but I had no idea about why and know I do. Great history lesson :)
ReplyDeleteEmily
Inspired in Italy
How beautiful that scene is. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteHow fascinating! I had no idea that 17 was considered unlucky.
ReplyDeleteI fon't have metal charm to send you , but I am sending you wishes for good luck, especially on today! This was an interesting post. - Sarah
ReplyDeleteI fon't have metal charm to send you , but I am sending you wishes for good luck, especially on today! This was an interesting post. - Sarah
ReplyDeleteHope it was lucky for you, LindyLouMac.
ReplyDeleteI always love to learn new things and I certainly have through your post. Fascinating, thanks.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting...I never knew this.... your photos are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteOh dear, I would not make a very good Italian. no's 7 and 17 are my two lucky numbers. It's my birthday and I use them often. I enjoyed hearing these interesting facts. I always wonder who ever decided (and why) a number was unluky in the first place.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Jann
Amazing how superstitious people are even now. How nice to be seeing signs of spring. My tulips are peeking up, way too early.
ReplyDeleteHow fascinating, Linda! I've never heard of this superstition before. I'm delighted that Alitalia doesn't employ this number in their seating arrangement. How quirky. :-)
ReplyDeleteoh, I love mimosa! Growing up it always felt like the first sign of spring :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, I don't really go in for superstitious stuff myself, but horses for courses. I love your Japonica, I would like to get some of that for my garden this year.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your comments, glad you enjoyed the images. Have a good week, hope it's getting warmer for you? Love Linda x
Interesting information on number 13..My superstition comes and goes, depending on what happens :-) but mostly I think it is just a number.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, and love your header!
Thanks for the interesting information! Love the beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed learning this. It's funny, even though I don't consider myself superstitious, Friday the 13th is something I think about when it happens. If I were in Italy, I'd have to give it a second thought if it were the 17th (or probably the 13th too)
ReplyDeleteMy apartment in Orso is 35 but the backdoor has a number 13 painted by it, left over from previous building division I think plus it's on a different lane. I got told to paint it out as "unlucky" by a local, so I guess numbers are regional in Italy.
ReplyDeleteIf like us you are an anglo Italian family you have to be careful on both days!
ReplyDeleteI love blogging because I learn so much about what happens in places I've never been and will never see. This was really interesting!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, love the colors on the first one!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea the number 17 was considered unlucky in Italy! Very interesting. I love to learn about other countries and their traditions. Thank you for sharing this!
ReplyDeletePS Thanks for stopping by The Gardening LIfe! It was great to hear from you again!
I never knew that the number 17 was considered unlucky in Italy. Glad you had a good day with no ill effects.
ReplyDeletewow, I did not know that either. I found this post very interesting espec the seating on Altalia !! I will talk to Nonna about this 17 superstition - I do know about tocco ferro and even have one of the gold charms, it is a chilli I think ?? this could be a different superstition though, I'm not sure. Take care - Yollie
ReplyDeleteLoved this post, it makes me think of my dear friends further down the coast in Compagnia, they are very superstitious of the number 17! Normally, it is at this time of year I am down there, but this year will have to skip my annual trip because of college. Sigh.
ReplyDelete