Friday the 13th: Origins, History and Myths of the Unlucky Day

Origins, History and Myths of why Friday the Thirteenth is seen as an Unlucky Day

November the 13th, 2015 is the third of three Friday the 13th's in this year; the other dates this year include February 13 and March 13.

Kids officially become teenagers at the age of 13, and we all know that’s scary.

Paraskevidekatriaphobia and/or friggatriskaidekaphobia is a fear of Friday the 13th.  It's been estimated that as much as $800 million dollars in business is lost on Friday the 13th, because of this fear some people avoid adhering to normal routine and even refuse to fly or make certain business transactions.

It is unclear when Friday and the number 13 became linked making the superstition's origins that much more mysterious.  Though the day and the number seperatly have their own history and myths, there does not seem to be mention of Friday the 13th before the 19th century. though the link date seems to be mainly an American and British fear.

According to Christian Scripture and tradition, Jesus of Nazareth was crucified on a Friday and so since the day has been associated with 'general ill omen'. Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, is considered to have been the 13th guest that brought about misfortune, so that may be a link.

Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, published in the 14th century, also considers Friday a day of misfortune, it was bad luck to start a journey or a project on a Friday.

Weddings in the Middle Ages were not held on Fridays, as it was considered an unlucky day.

In Spanish-speaking countries it is Tuesdays, not Fridays; that hold superstitious omens.

Italians are far more concerned about Friday the 17th.

The Ancient Egyptians believed life was a spiritual journey that unfolded in 13 stages. They believed that 12 of those stages occurred on this plane of existence, but the 13th an ascension to an eternal afterlife was seen as acknowledgement of a glorious and eternal life. So though associated with death, it was not considered unlucky.

The Jewish Shabbat (a weekly day of rest), though technically is Saturday it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night.

Islam also has some links to Friday that are not linked to misfortune “O you who believe! When the call to prayer is proclaimed on Friday hasten earnestly to the remembrance of God, and leave aside business.” (Quran 62:9)

Superstitions surrounding the number 13 date back to at least 1700 BC.

• Many hotels and office buildings do not even have a 13th floor.
• Traditionally, there used to be 13 steps leading up the gallows.
• Traditional witch covens were made up of 13 members

In much of East and Southeast Asia, where tetraphobia (fear of number 4) is the norm, you'll find as little use of the number 4 in private or public life as you do in use of the number 13 in the United States.

A longstanding myth that if 13 people dine together, one will die within a year. Can be atributed to the above mentioned Christian Last Supper and a popular Norse myth, in which Odin and 11 friends dine together in the banquet hall of Valhalla. 'Loki the god of Mischief' showed up uninvited (making 13) Loki then tricked 'Hod the blind god of winter and darkness' into to murdering 'Balder the Good' with a spear of mistletoe providing another example of a story in history that says having 13 for dinner is a bad idea.

The Thirteen Club first (formed by William Fowler) met on Wednesday September 13th, 1881 and put forth effort to to actively mock any and all established ‘superstitions’. With this in mind, the group of 13 would meet on the 13th of each month and sit 13 to a table and begin to participate in breaking of mirrors, spilling salt, and walking under ladders.

Though Friday the 13th as bad luck is thought to be a modern interpretation of cause, the arrest of Jacques de Molay (Grand Master of the Knights Templar) did occur on Friday, Oct. 13, 1307.

Friday the 13th fear was further boasted by Hollywood in 1980 when Paramount Pictures released the movie Friday the 13th, where Jason Voorhees proceeded to slash his way across Camp Crystal Lake and the US box offices.

Apollo 13 is the only unsuccessful moon mission. Whether there is any merit to the superstitions surrounding Friday the 13th will remain uncertain, but that will not stop millions of people across the world from worrying about the unlucky day.

There are a number of popular myths and superstitions surrounding the day, most notably:

• If you cut your hair on Friday the 13th, someone in your family will die.
• If a funeral procession passes you on Friday the 13th, you will be the next to die.
• Do not start a trip on Friday or you will encounter misfortune.
• A child born on Friday the 13th will be unlucky for life.
• Ships that set sail on a Friday will have bad luck, Don't start that poop cruise!