Friday The 13th: A Bad Luck?

When we hear the phrase, Friday the 13th, we already automatically think of it as a bad luck or a taboo.. But , should it really be considered as such? or is it just a common superstitous belief among us?

Why Friday The 13th Is Considered Bad Luck

Friday the 13th has always been associated with superstition, especially by Westerners and Easterners, either with the day itself or historic events that happened during that specific date which gave it its ominous reputation.

For most people, Friday the 13th often symbolizes bad luck and this belief combines two elements of misfortune: the day Friday itself which people from various cultures perceive as unlucky in historical terms and the number “13” which people believe to be ill-fated – both for Western and Eastern traditions – hence, this day is always considered to be dreadful by some people for potential mishaps. (Source: “Why Friday the 13th is considered unlucky across the world” by Kristina Moy from Fox 13 Seattle” ; https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/friday-13th-myths-origins-legacy)

This superstition has been circulating around the world for the past 100 years. Experts can only guess and find it hard to pinpoint why Friday the 13th is always perceive as an “unlucky” day. According to Stephen Winick, a folklore specialist at the American Folklore Center of the Library of Congress, people start making references to Friday the 13th being unlucky without being able to say as to why they consider it to be as such – which leads to others gathering wild theories about the said date. (Source: “The possible origins of Friday the 13th and other unlucky days” by Kaity Kline from NPR; https://www.npr.org/2024/09/13/nx-s1-5103766/beware-its-friday-the-13th-dont-say-we-didnt-warn-you)

“Fridays were considered unlucky days, and that’s been true since the Middle Ages in the English speaking world and probably through most of Europe, because Friday was the day of crucifixion. And in the old Catholic tradition, every Friday was a day of penance. And that idea has persisted,” – Marsh

One of the references gathered by Winick about Friday the 13th being unlucky is from both French writing and plays – where the character from the play Les Finesses des Gribouilles once said, “I was born on a Friday, December 13th, 1813 from which come all of my misfortunes.” and where the father killed his daughter on Friday the 13th (from a French literary magazine Revue de Paris as written by Marquis de Salvo). According to him, it is always Fridays and 13 that bring bad luck.

People have started approaching this said occasion with caution – avoiding significant decisions or events, avoiding travel, delaying surgeries or so and so. There are even airlines who dropped bookings on this date and buildings omit 13th floor entirely. (There are even some estate properties who dont have the number “13” on their unit.)

Friday the 13th is also associated with black cats which people also consider to be bad luck , especially when they cross paths with one on Halloween or on Friday the 13th. In history.com , written records associate black cats to the occult way back in the 13th century – black cats are considered to be or declared as Satan’s incarnate if not being inextricably linked to witches in medieval Europe.

Still curious? Read more from these links I’ve mentioned here in this blog:

Sources:

• Why Friday the 13th is considered unlucky across the world” by Kristina Moy from Fox 13 Seattle” ; https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/friday-13th-myths-origins-legacy
  

• “The possible origins of Friday the 13th and other unlucky days” by Kaity Kline from NPR; https://www.npr.org/2024/09/13/nx-s1-5103766/beware-its-friday-the-13th-dont-say-we-didnt-warn-you