Anyone who is superstitious can tell you that Friday the 13th is a very unlucky day, but why is that day so unlucky? Is it really different from every other day or is it all in our heads? To find out, we need to go back to the origins of the superstition to see if their roots have any truth to them. Let’s start with the number 13.
History of the Number 13
The negativity associated with the number 13 dates back to biblical times when Jesus and his apostles attended the last supper. The 13th person to arrive at the last supper before Jesus’ death was Judas, the individual who betrayed him. Since then, there have been a number of things related to the number 13 that give it an unlucky aura.
Here are some facts about the number that you may not know:
- There are 13 moon cycles each year, which means that a woman’s menstrual cycle occurs 13 times a year as well.
- 13 witches are required to form a coven.
- Many buildings do not have a 13th floor.
History of Friday
The same is true of the sixth day of the week, which is Friday. It is a day that has been marked with pain. Here are some of the reasons that this day is associated with bad omens:
- Eve gave the apple to Adam on a Friday, which is the original sin and the reason that we all die.
- Adam was expelled from the Garden of Eden on a Friday and he also died on a Friday.
- Jesus was killed on a Friday.
Friday the 13th
Some cultures consider Friday to be a bad day of the week, but when you combine the number 13 with a Friday, bad things are bound to occur.
Here are some examples:
- Tupac Shakur died on September 13, 1996, which was a Friday.
- Julia Child died on Friday, August 13, 2004.
- Sam Patch leaped 125 feet into the Niagara River, near the falls, to his death on Friday the 13th.
- During WWII, five bombs were dropped on Buckingham Palace on Friday, September 13th.
- The US Stock Exchange suffered from a major financial crash on Friday, October 13, 1989.
- The Costa Concordia sank Friday January 13, 2012.
- The terror attacks that occurred in Paris in 2015 occurred on Friday the 13th.
Is there Truth Behind the Superstition?
Well, while I am aware of things that have happened on Friday the 13th, I believe that we can create our own luck. Just because it is Friday the 13th, does not mean that you are predestined to have bad luck that day. In fact, a lot of the hype that is associated with the day is based on the anxiety and the fear that something will happen during that day. When you believe that something bad is going to happen, your anxiety and blood pressure will go up, which will make you more vulnerable to something going wrong. If anything bad ever happens to you on Friday the 13th, your mind will create an irrational fear based on the superstition that surrounds the day.
Interesting Facts
- Taylor Swift – Not only was she born on the 13th day of the month, she turned 13 years old on Friday the 13th. Her firsts in her music career all had a significance relating to the number. The intro of her first song was 13 seconds long, and her first album only took 13 weeks to reach gold.
- Alfred Hitchcock – Born on the Friday, August 13, 1899, and his 100th birthday would have also fallen on a Friday the 13th.
When is the Next Friday the 13th?
The next Friday the 13th of 2017 falls in October, so if you are still afraid of bad things happening, then just be extra cautious that day. If you are ready to take on the world fearless and free, then there are several discounts that you can enjoy on a Friday the 13th.
- No one wants to risk flying on a Friday the 13th, so flights often cost a lot less on this specific day.
- Purchasing a home on this unlucky day can result in a smooth transaction that is a better deal than the rest of the month.
- Getting married on the 13th is a great way to save a bit; in fact, some venues even offer a discount if you are brave enough to reserve the date.
In truth, Friday is a sacred day for many religions, and the number 13 represents fertility and rebirth. Ultimately, the day should be a celebration, not a cause for fear.