History of Friday the 13th

History of Friday the 13th

For centuries there have been many negative superstitions around the number thirteen. There has also been a long history of bad luck on the day Friday, and the combination of the two is what makes the day so spooky. Belief in these superstitions vary…

Biblical Origin

It is still uncertain when the fear around Friday the 13th began, but there are many different theories. Some believe that the unluckiness of Friday the 13th comes from the Bible. This is because the disciple that betrayed Jesus, Judas, was the thirteenth guest to sit down at the Last Supper. The crucifixion of Jesus then took place on a Friday, which explains why those with certain religious beliefs trust that the unluckiness of Friday the 13th started with this. This has given rise to a longstanding Christian superstition that having thirteen guests at a table is a bad omen, and that Friday’s bring bad luck.

The math behind the date

There is an interesting calendrical method to how often Friday the 13th occurs. Whenever a year begins on a Thursday, the months of February, March, and November will all have a Friday the 13th. This specific trilogy will happen eleven times in the 21st century, and will repeat in a twenty-eight-year cycle. Even during a leap year, Friday the 13th can occur up to three times.

Fear Spreading

The fear of Friday the 13th is very real and more common than you’d think. It is feared so much that plenty of businesses, hospitals, and hotels skip the thirteenth floor because of the widespread fear of the number itself. Even airlines skip gate number thirteen. It is considered bad luck to even have thirteen people at the dinner table in many parts of the world. The irrational fear of this day and number is certainly more widespread than expected.

Although it is still uncertain when the fear of Friday the 13th commenced, it is clear how unlucky and scary the day can be. Whether you believe in the superstitions or not, the fear in this day can knock anyone’s socks off.