Today is Friday the 13th. This morning, for the first time in my life, I actually wondered why. Why is this day supposed to be so unlucky? Why do hospitals and hotels skip over the 13th room? Why is there no 13th floor to most buildings? Why is there a slasher-movie franchise named after this day?
So I did some research and, apparently, there is no solid, definitive explanation as to where the Friday the 13th superstition came from. Probably an amalgam of several different things over the years. But there are theories, of course. A few of these theories give the superstition Pagan or Christian roots.
Biblical roots
The number 12 signifies completeness in the Bible: 12 tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles. But add one more and all hell breaks loose. There were 13 people present at Jesus’ Last Supper. And many believe that Christ was crucified on a Friday, commemorated every year on Good Friday. Hence, Friday and the number 13 are unlucky. This explanation probably began in medieval times.
It’s also been said that Eve ate the forbidden fruit on a Friday. Now, how anyone could possible deduce this is beyond me, but the belief is there. Also, people say the flood and the confusion at the Tower of Babel both began on a Fridays. Hmm, I must have missed that part in Genesis.
Norse roots
The Norse myth is about twelve gods who were feasting in Valhalla. Loki, decided to crash the party, bringing number of guests to 13. Loki had made arrangements for the blind god of darkness, Hod, to shoot Baldur, the god of joy and gladness, with an arrow made of mistletoe. Baldur died. As a result, the Earth was plunged into total darkness and mourning.
Friday is named for the goddess of marriage, Frigg or Frigga. Over the course of time, Frigg was confused with Freya, the goddess of love, thus identifying Friday with Freya. After the Norsemen and Germanic tribes turned to Christianity, Freya was banished to the mountains and declared a witch. After this banishment, Friday became known as the “witches” Sabbath. According to Norse legend, every Friday, there would be twelve witches who would meet with the Devil leaving a total of 13 evil spirits present.
Knights Templar explanation
According to the history of the Knights Templar, the Grand Master, Jaques de Molay, and about sixty of his high ranking knights were arrested on Friday, October 13, 1307 by King Philip IV of France. Apparently, he was threatened by the society’s power and wealth. Thousands of supporters of the Knights Templar were also arrested and tortured, making this an unlucky day. From my vantage point, luck wasn’t a factor.
So, now I know a few theories behind the Friday the 13th superstition silliness. I think I was better off not knowing, or caring.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Friday the 13th is unlucky because some people perceive it to be. It isn’t that bad luck doesn’t happen on any other date or day , it does but society does not make a connection between negative occurrences and Monday the 23 or Tuesday the 8th Therefore on those days we aren’t looking for bad luck to happen. Unfortunately that doesn’t stop it from happening – would be nice if it did.
So if some ting like a wreck or a house fire happens on Sunday the 16th we are more lily to attribute the fire to faulty wiring than the day of the week, However it the same house burns for the same reason on Friday the 13th many will associate the cause of the fire to the date despite any evidence that points to the cause as the faulty wiring.
Bad luck happens all the time, the laws of probability are more of a factor than the date but we simply fail to associate the luck with the date unless the event occurs on Friday 13th.