Tag Archives: New Year

Are you superstitious about the year 2013?

no_13th_floorHappy New Year! But is it really happy for those superstitious about the number 13? For this week’s featured topic, let’s take a look at triskaidekaphobia — the fear of the number 13.

  • The word triskaidekaphobia has Greek origins — triskaideka is 13 in Greek (treis = three, kai = and, deka = ten) and phobia is, of course, fear of.
  • Many believe the superstition has ancient origins. The Babylonian Code of Hammurabi, dating back to 1780 BC, omits a 13th law. Others credit Judas for the superstition. An apostle, Judas betrayed Jesus at the Last Supper and was the 13th to sit at the table. Read more reasons the number 13 is unlucky in this great answer.
  • Did you know? Many high rise buildings do not have a floor 13, either skipping it altogether or substituting it for 12A.
  • The specific fear of Friday the 13th is known as paraskevidekatriaphobia. Friday the 13th will occur twice in the year 2013 — Friday, September 13 and Friday, December 13. What is the origin of the fear of Friday the 13th? Check out this answer.

Tell us: Are you superstitious about the number 13? If you are, would you delay a wedding or having a baby in 2013?

Answers.com 2009 Year in Review.

Break out the bubbly – it’s that time of year again.

It’s time to celebrate turning one year older and one year wiser (er, well, at least one year older). Let’s take some time to sit back and reflect on some of the most inspiring, outrageous, unfortunate and touching stories of 2009 through the eyes of Answers.com’s most curious contributors.

History was made as the first African American president of the United States was inaugurated into office. A record number of people watched President Barack Obama’s moment in person, as well as from their TV sets and computers around the world. But wouldn’t it have been even better to have been a fly on the White House wall that day? On second thought, maybe not…

Speaking of TV, the commercials of the year go to:

  1. Corona, for casting a mysterious hot babe in their beach-front ad…
  2. Geico, for vocals, animation and ingenuity…
  3. HTC, for getting us pumped with song…

…combine ‘em all and you have a jamming pothole in a white bikini!

If you’re not on Facebook, that means two things. First of all, you are a freak of nature. Second, you missed playing the top three hottest apps on the site: Mafia Wars, YoVille and Farmville. Lucky for you, the WikiAnswers community can answer that question you’ve been dying to know: How do you get the purple sheep in Farmville?

While on the topic of animals, it would be wise to note that our little oinker friend, however cute and tasty, is being held responsible for one of the worst virus scares in history. When the World Health Organization raised the warning level for H1N1 to a shocking level 6 (global pandemic), everyone wanted to know how to avoid the Swine Flu.

Although sickness is avoidable, death, unfortunately, is not. This year saw many fallen stars, such as: gossip columnist James Brady, Charlie’s Angel Farrah Fawcett, Dirty Dancer Patrick Swayze, U.S. Senate powerhouse Ted Kennedy, ‘most trusted man’ Walter Cronkite, all-around actress Natasha Richardson, ‘philosopher of adolescence’ John Hughes and globally-recognized pop music legend Michael Jackson. RIP.

Those stars passed away, while other stars killed their own reputations. Kanye West ripped the mic out of Taylor Swift’s hands faster than Chris Brown could throw a punch at Rihanna. ‘Jon and Kate Plus Eight’ was renamed ‘Kate Plus Eight’ after Jon supposedly strayed from his wife. Tiger Woods was also outed as an 18-hole ‘Cheetah.’

But fret not! Many other rising celebrities have proven their worth to the public in 2009. Underdog Susan Boyle was, at one point this year, the most YouTubed person in the world. She ‘dreamed a dream’ – and so did Justin Bieber, a 15-year-old singing prodigy who became famous after posting his work online.

Another irresistible YouTube sensation included the ‘Forever’ wedding dance.

The Yankees also performed well this year and won the World Series for the 27th time. Baseball was a great distraction from the economic recession, which started with the crash of the stock market in 2008 and led to a global scare – and stimulus plan – in 2009.

Almost as scary was your grandma trying to figure out the conversion box for the TV to HDTV switch.

Why not just ask for the directions on Twitter? Any computer-literate person knows that information is just a twitter – I mean, a tweet – away.

Tweeting was one of the ways many learned about Captain ‘Sully’ Sullenburger’s safe landing of US Airways Flight 1549 into the Hudson River, after both engines had been struck by birds. He even sparked a new phrase… Way to ‘land it in the Hudson,’ Sully!

What would Oprah have to say about all this? You have about one more year to ask. To the disappointment of millions, she announces this year is the last season of her show.

Avatar posterWipe those tears from your eyes and put on some 3D glasses. It’s time to go see Avatar! The 500 million dollar blockbuster is making history as the most expensive movie ever made. If the storyline of Avatar is a predecessor for the future, I’m all smiles. Who wouldn’t want to welcome in the New Year with an aesthetically-proportioned blue giant trying to save the universe?

Happy New Year, everyone! We hope 2010 proves to be another year of getting your questions answered… on Answers.com, of course.

Why do we kiss at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve?

Is everybody ready to ring in 2009? New Year’s Eve is upon us… In fact, some parts of the world are getting a head start and already discovering how ridiculously awesome this next year is/will be.

You can go ahead and learn more about the traditions surrounding New Year’s Eve, or you can just read below for the WikiAnswers Wednesday entry and find out how this one got started:

How did the superstition of kissing at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve start?

It was a New Year’s Eve, a long, long time ago. It was snowing and beautiful, and my friend Barry was at a wonderfully chipper New Year’s party. As everyone counted down to bring the new year in, he looked to his right and then he looked to his left. All his friends were standing around him. Martha and Jake, Jude and Christine, Penny and Michael. Even Timmy was there with a new girlfriend named Janice.

Suddenly it struck Barry: he was the only one who didn’t have his arms around anyone else. As the counting closed in on him – “9, 8, 7, 6″ – he knew he had to do something quick. He grabbed the closest head of hair he could reach and pulled her in to his arms. When the room shouted, “3, 2, 1!” he gave her a big kiss, right on the mouth.

It was then that Barry realized he must have kissed one of his good pals’ ladies! He hadn’t even noticed which one yet. He nervously looked around. There was Martha and Jake, Jude and Christine, Penny and Michael. There was Timmy and Janice. They all, oddly enough, had the same look on their faces.

Barry looked down and realized: the lady he had kissed was Lady, Jake’s giant, hairy chocolate Labrador.

And from then on, Barry’s friends never let him forget that New Year’s kiss. And to remind themselves of it every year, they all gave each other kisses as the clock struck midnight.

The end. Have a happy new year everybody!