March 2013 – Five Fridays, Five Saturdays, Five Sundays
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The claim
Circulating message claims that March 2013 will feature 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays, a special calendar event that only occurs once every 823 years. The message also claims that the event is called “money bags” and those who share it with others will receive money within 4 days.
This year March has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. This happens once every 823 years. This is called money bags. So, forward this to your friends and money will arrive within 4 days. Based on Chinese Feng Shui. The one who does not forward…..will be without money.
What the fact-checkers found
March 2013 does indeed have 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. However, the claim that such a combination only takes place every 823 is utter nonsense. It occurs far more often than that. The next occurrence will take place in March 2019. And it will again take place just a few years later in March 2024. In fact, any month that has 31 days will have three consecutive days that occur five times in the month. Such combinations are commonplace and occur each and every year. This message is just one more in a series of equally silly chain letters featuring different months.
According to this message, which is currently circulating via social media websites, March 2013 will have 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays, a combination of days that happens only once every 823 years. It claims that this is the only time we will see this event in our lifetime.
The message also claims that. according to Chinese Feng Shui, such events are called “money bags” and that those who send on the information will receive money within four days.
However, the message is nonsense. Of course, there is no disputing the fact that March 2013 will indeed have 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. But, this is certainly not an unusual event and such a combination of March days takes place far more often than every 823 years. In fact, the next time that a March has such a combination will be just a few years hence in, 2019:
And, it will occur again in 2024:
Furthermore, in every single year, March will boast three consecutive days that occur five times. In fact, a quick peek at the calendar reveals that any month that has 31 days will have three consecutive days that occur five times in the month. Such combinations are commonplace, perfectly predictable, and occur each and every year
This message is just a revamped version of earlier messages that featured other months, including August 2010, October 2010, July 2011, June 2012 and December 2012.
And, of course, the claim that sending on a silly – and factually flawed – message will somehow bring you good luck is superstitious nonsense.
Sources and references
- 1
CalendarWerks
- 2
CalendarWerks – 2013
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Check a similar messageRelated fact-checks
Browse the archive →Hoax – June 2012 – 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays
The claims in the message are utter nonsense. Firstly, the calendar included in the message is not for June 2012, or any other June. The month of June has 30 days, not 31.
July 2011 – 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays, 5 Sundays
It is perfectly true that July 2011 has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. However, such a combination occurs far more often than every 823 years. The last occurrence was in July 2005 while the next occurrence will take place in July 2016.
‘Interesting Fact’ About October 2010 – 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays, 5 Sundays
It is true that October 2010 has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. However, such a combination occurs far more often than every 823 years. The last occurrence was in October 2004 while the next occurrence will take place in October 2021.
NONSENSE: August 2014 Date Combination – ‘Once Every 823 Years’
It is perfectly true that August 2014 has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. However, this combination occurs far more often than once every 823 years and is not at all remarkable.