Friday-Face

I have a desk calendar entitled 'Forgotten English' which each day has a word or saying that is long lost to history.

Friday is a day long association with bad luck and not just confined to Friday 13th. 'Friday-face' is described as a grave or gloomy expression of the countenance. As you can see from the image, this was from the New English Dictionary from as late as 1901!

It is Lord Byron's (1788-1824) birthday today and he paid heed to the superstition of not commencing any work on a Friday, once turning away a Genoese tailor who had brought him a new coat on this most ominous of weekdays.

In Lancashire Folklore, John Harland believed a man should never go courting on a Friday as it was unlucky.

How things have changed. Most of the working population wish away the week for Friday to come along. So much so that I imagine it will be up as one of the most popular days of week.

Have a great weekend everyone.