Friday the 13th is considered by many to be one of the most unfortunate and unlucky dates. This day is associated with various fears and fascinations, inspired by centuries-old traditions and beliefs. People who believe in superstitions consider Friday the 13th to be a day of bad omen.
Paraskavedekatriaphobia and friggatriskaidekaphobia describe the fear of this supposedly bad and unlucky day. There are some reports that claim that Friday the 13th costs around $900 million each time. It is preferable to avoid traveling, celebrating auspicious events or even going to work on this day.
Why did Friday the 13th get a bad reputation?
There is nothing in particular that makes Friday the 13th an unlucky or inauspicious day. However, Western culture considered the number 13 to be unlucky and attributed negative connotations to it.
On the other hand, the number 12 is historically connected with good omens and plenitude, as they believe there are 12 days of Christmas, 12 months, signs of the zodiac, the 12 labors of Hercules, 12 gods of Olympus and 12 tribes of Israel.
The number 13 brings bad luck. There is an ancient myth that the world’s oldest legal document, the Code of Hammurabi, omits the 13th law from the list, which was actually a mistake by the translator who did not include that line of text.
Another story about Friday the 13th comes from biblical tradition. The Last Supper had 13 guests: Jesus and 12 apostles, who attended the Last Supper and the next day was Good Friday when Jesus was executed. The Last Supper has spawned superstitions that 13 guests at a table bring bad luck.
Charles Panati’s book ‘The Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things’ traces the concept of the curse back to Norse mythology, when Loki, the god of mischief, entered the banquet in Valhalla, bringing 13 gods with him, writes Christobel Hastings for CNN.
Hastings further wrote: “Tricked by Loki, the blind god Hodr was tricked into shooting his brother Balder, the god of light, joy and goodness, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow, killing him instantly.”
Is Friday the 13th really that bad?
Different people believe in different superstitions. Friday the 13th is not “as bad as it seems.” Brian Handwek of National Geographic writes: “In Spain, Friday the 13th is not a cause for alarm, and instead, Tuesday the 13th is the most dangerous date of the year.”
“Numerology may also explain why Italians have no qualms about celebrating Friday the 13th but fear the 17th. The Roman numeral XVII can be rearranged to spell ‘VIXI’, which, translated from Latin, means ‘my life is over’,” he added.
First published: September 13, 2024 | 1:30 p.m. IS
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