The number 13 has long been associated with bad luck.
The final Friday the 13th of the year will fall in October in 2023, making the superstitious holiday even more eerie. This time of year is undeniably mysterious, whether it’s the ghost decor lining the sidewalks or the urban legends we share on repeat. With Friday the 13th only a few weeks away, we investigated the origins and significance of the day.
Friday the 13th comes with a well-established set of superstitions, including: don’t walk under a ladder; don’t break any mirrors; don’t open your umbrella inside; don’t cross paths with a black cat; and remember that bad luck comes in threes. On Friday the 13th, these common superstitions are amplified. While each allegory has its own origins and reason for being unlucky, the holiday’s long-standing superstitions are likely to play a larger role in the fear we may feel on Friday the 13th.
Continue reading to learn more about the origins of Friday the 13th, common superstitions, and why it may not be so bad after all.
Why Is Friday the 13th Unlucky?
Though the precise origins of Friday the 13th are unknown, certain cultures throughout history have regarded the date as unlucky for a variety of reasons. Friday is said to be the day Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, Cain murdered his brother Abel, Jesus died, and Noah’s ark set sail in the Great Flood in Christianity. Furthermore, Judas was the 13th guest at the Last Supper and is remembered as the disciple who betrayed Jesus Christ the most.
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Loki, the god of mischief, crashed a banquet in Valhalla. His presence increased the number of gods present to 13. Later that night, Loki deceived the blind god Hodr, causing him to miscount the number of gods present and shoot his own brother, Balder.
However, it wasn’t until the nineteenth century, when Thomas W. Lawson published his novel “Friday the Thirteenth,” that the date became widely associated with misfortune. The plot revolves around a morally bankrupt stockbroker who uses holiday superstitions to crash the stock market.
Is Friday the 13th Good Luck?
Given all of the negative connotations associated with Friday the 13th, it’s reasonable to believe the holiday is cursed. Many people, however, believe that the holiday is a sign of good fortune. In fact, Friday — which means “day of Frigg” in Norse mythology — is named after Asgard’s queen Frigg, or Frigga, the goddess of motherhood. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, in addition to guiding people through love and marriage, Frigg is said to have protected families, homes, and the fate of entire communities. She was also linked to Freyja, the goddess of love, fertility, and warfare. According to legend, Freyja could see into the future and predict deaths, and she frequently rode in a chariot drawn by two black cats, making the four-legged friends luckier than many may have initially believed.
Tuesday the 13th is considered an unlucky date in Greek and Hispanic cultures because Tuesday is thought to be dominated by Ares, the god of war, in Greek mythology. Friday the 17th is considered unlucky in Italy because the Roman numerals for 17 can spell out “I have lived” in Latin, implying someone’s life is over and they have died. Meanwhile, the number 13 is considered a lucky number.
Similarly, the number 13 was long considered a lucky number in pagan times due to its associations with fertility and the number of lunar and menstrual cycles in a calendar year. While old wives’ tales tell us to knock on wood, sleep facing south, or even wear our clothes inside out all day on Friday the 13th to bring good luck, it appears the holiday may be inherently good after all.
When Is the Next Friday the 13th?
In general, a month has a Friday the 13th only if it begins on a Sunday. In 2023, there will be two: one in January and one in October. Given the supernatural associations that many people associate with the holiday, the fact that it falls on the same day as Halloween this year makes both celebrations even more special. In fact, October 13, 2023, will be the last Friday the 13th in October until 2028. Following that, the next October 13th will be in 2034, then 2045, and 2051. There will be two Fridays the 13th in 2024: September 13 and December 13.
Of course, given the Gregorian calendar’s layout, the 13th of the month is slightly more likely to fall on a Friday than any other day of the week, making Friday the 13th more of a coincidence than a phenomenon. Still, given that a Friday the 13th in October only happens once in a blue moon, we’ll make it extra special this year.
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