Why Friday the 13th Is Considered Bad Luck
Why is Friday the 13th considered so bad? It’s part math, part history, and part pop culture.
Westerners have always had a problem with the number 13, no matter what day of the week it is. There is even a scientific name for the fear of numbers: triskaidekaphobia. Experts such as Thomas Fernsler, a scientist at the University of Delaware, suggest that this disregard for the number is due to the fact that it is located after 12, which numerologists consider the “complete” number. Think about it – there are 12 months, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 apostles of Jesus … the list goes on and on and 13 divides into only one and himself. The number 13 is far superior to the ideal 12, and it makes people feel uncomfortable.
Another likely source of superstition is Christianity in the Middle Ages. Stuart Weiss, professor of psychology at Connecticut College, believes Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, is to blame . He was the 13th guest at the Last Supper and Jesus was crucified on Friday (also known as “executioner’s day”). According to Weiss, the whole thing was “a kind of double blow from 13 people who fell on an already nervous day.” Other Bible scholars note that Eve allegedly tempted Adam on Friday, and Cain killed his brother Aulus on Friday the 13th. In addition, Philip IV of France allegedly arrested hundreds of Templars on Friday October 13, 1307 , perpetuating the day as dark.
Last but not least, Friday the 13th played an important role in Norse mythology. Folklore historian Donald Dossi explains the old tale where 12 gods were having dinner in Valhalla when someone walks in as the 13th guest? None other than Loki, the god of mischief himself. He orders the blind god Hoder to shoot and kill Balder, the god of joy and fun, making this day a bad and unfortunate one for everyone.
Of course, we have other works to thank for popularizing ancient superstitions. Thomas W. Lawson’s novel Friday the Thirteenth helped bring out superstition again in 1907. And the Friday the 13th horror franchise , originally titled The Long Night at the Blood Camp, has kept those macabre words in our minds ever since. 80s Chhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhah