FRIDAY THE 13TH

PART OF "UNDAS: A HALLOWEEN AND CHALLENGING HORROR AND MYTHS" SERIES

Photo: timeanddate.com

Author: Ken Klark L. Flores

Introduction

The superstition that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day is rooted in a long history of separate beliefs regarding the number 13 and Fridays, which eventually combined into one widespread modern fear. Some theories trace these negative associations back to biblical events, Norse mythology, and the persecution of the Knights Templar.

Superstition's Origin and Theory

Many associate the number 13 with the Last Supper, where there were 13 guests. The 13th guest, Judas Iscariot, betrayed Jesus, who was then crucified on a Friday (Good Friday). Other biblical misdeeds, including Eve eating the forbidden fruit and Cain killing Abel, are also sometimes said to have happened on a Friday. Others, they citing to arrests of hundreds of Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307. King Philip IV of France, along with Pope Clement V, had them rounded up, tortured, and executed, whch is frequently cited historical event.

In Norse Mythology, A myth tells of a dinner party in Valhalla attended by 12 gods. The trickster god Loki, who was not invited, arrived as the 13th guest. He then caused the death of Balder, the god of light, which led to chaos and grief (Friday the 13th (Superstition) | EBSCO, 2023). The Code of Hammurabi, one of the world's oldest legal codes, reportedly omitted a 13th law from its list, although this detail may be a modern myth (Baird, 2022).

For centuries, both the number 13 and the day Friday were considered unlucky on their own. Some numerologists believe 13 is unlucky because it follows the number 12, which represents completeness (12 months in a year, 12 zodiac signs, 12 gods of Olympus). In contrast, the irregular number 13 is seen as "restless or squirmy". Many hotels and buildings omit a 13th floor, and some airlines skip a 13th row. In medieval England, Fridays were known as "Hangman's Day" because it was the usual day for public executions. Author Geoffrey Chaucer also linked Friday with "mischance" in his 14th-century work The Canterbury Tales. 

Some folklorists believe the specific combination of an unlucky Friday and an unlucky 13 is a Victorian-era invention, rather than a single event. The earliest written references combining the fears of Friday and the number 13 date to the 19th century. 

Cultural impact in the Modern popularization

In late 1880s and 1900s, this gained traction in Western popular culture, possibly popularized by Thomas W. Lawson's 1907 novel Friday, the Thirteenth. While not universal, in italy, considers unlucky for Friday the 17th (Why Do Italians Consider Friday the 17th Unlucky?, n.d.), others in Greece and Italy for Tuesday the 13th, In Spanish, the word for Tuesday, martes, is named after Mars, the Roman god of war and destruction, while in Greek, the word for Tuesday, Triti (Τρίτη), means "the third (day)". Superstition holds that misfortune comes in threes, adding to its ominous reputation (Hellenic History, 2022).

Effects

Friday the 13th is a normal day for accidents, with statistics showing no significant increase in danger. In some cases, it may even be safer due to people being more cautious. The number of accidents on any given day depends on typical factors like driver behavior and traffic conditions, not superstition.

The perception that tragic events on Friday the 13th are more than a coincidence is a combination of psychological bias and selective memory, rather than a scientifically proven connection.

Conclusion

While Friday the 13th believe for some as unlucky, remember that this day just our everyday normal day, and there's no fear for this day, because god is our control.

Reference:

Friday the 13th (superstition) | EBSCO. (2023). EBSCO Information Services, Inc. | Www.ebsco.com. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/social-sciences-and-humanities/friday-13th-superstition

Baird, L. (2022). Code of Hammurabi | Importance, Examples & Purpose. Study.com. https://study.com/learn/lesson/code-of-hammurabi-laws-history.html

Why Do Italians Consider Friday the 17th Unlucky? (n.d.). ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/unlucky-friday-the-17th-3972380

Hellenic History. (2022). Facebook.com. https://www.facebook.com/GreekHistory1/posts/greeks-consider-tuesdays-%CF%84%CF%81%CE%AF%CF%84%CE%B7-the-most-unlucky-day-of-the-week-because-bad-news/1078356947811286/

Disclaimer 

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect the views of any religious organization or denomination. This article is for religious and educational purposes only.

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