in

Friday the 13th: Let’s Find Out Why The Day is Considered Unlucky

GettyImages 565297439web 56f98aa23df78c7841935490
GettyImages 565297439web 56f98aa23df78c7841935490

No one can say for sure when the unpleasant superstitions surrounding Friday the 13th first began to circulate. But while the number 12 has traditionally been connected with completion — 12 months of the year, 12 days of Christmas, 12 zodiac signs — the number 13, especially, has long been associated with ill luck.

Where Does The Fear Of 13 Come From? Here's Why You Have A Phobia Of Friday The 13th

History.com claims that a crucial legislation was left out of the ancient Code of Hammurabi, one of the first and most comprehensive written legal laws. Superstitious people often cite this as evidence of the number’s bad vibes, even though it was probably just a clerical error.

Western scholars attribute the superstitious dread of the number 13 to the Bible. The Last Supper included Jesus and his 12 apostles, one of whom, Judas, would later betray him. The following day, on Good Friday, Jesus was crucified.

Friday 13th: The accidental superstition? - BBC News

As the site explains, a Christian superstition arose from the seating arrangement at the Last Supper, which held that there should never be more than 12 people seated at a table. According to History.com, Christianity may be another source of the bad connotation of the day Friday.

A Friday was chosen for the crucifixion of Jesus. According to the website, some people think Friday was the day Eve fed Adam from the Tree of Knowledge and the day Cain slaughtered his brother Abel.

The Thirteen Club

Origins of Friday the 13th: How the Day Got So Spooky | Live Science

According to the History Channel, in the late 19th century, a New Yorker named Captain William Fowler founded an elite club called the Thirteen Club in an effort to dispel the superstition associated with the number 13.

On April 13, 1883, he had a dinner for his friends and family in the room number 13 of the Knickerbocker Cottage, which he eventually sold. History.com claims that several former U.S. presidents, including Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, and Theodore Roosevelt, were all members.

Fear of the Number 13

Friday the 13th origins: A look at why the day is considered unlucky

Triskaidekaphobia, which is the irrational fear of the number 13, affects a large percentage of the general population. Many aeroplanes (including those operated by Air France) and office buildings (particularly in the United States) don’t have a thirteenth row or floor.

It’s a business decision, say the experts, because people wouldn’t pay for a product they believed was cursed.

Significance of the Number 13 Around The World

Why is Friday the 13th unlucky? The cultural origins of an enduring superstition - CNN Style

The number 13 is simply another one among many in Asia. According to National Geographic, “the Chinese term for death is pronounced similarly to the Chinese word for four, making the number four particularly frightening in China.”  Tetraphobia is the formal term for this condition.

In both China and Japan, the number 8 is considered highly auspicious since it can be easily pronounced as either “prosperity” or “wealth.” Many people believe that Tuesday the 13th is a cursed day in Greece, Mexico, and Spain.

What do you think?

Written by Rashi Gautam

A writer by day and reader by night, I am someone who - as soon as she graduated from high school - knew she wanted to write. How? When? where? It did not matter as long as I got to write! And every second of it has been full of learning, adventure, and excitement. I love reading, especially high fantasy, fiction, and thrillers! And when I am not reading or reviewing books on my blog, I try my hand at graphic designing for blog posts, headers, logos. Add a little bit of video editing into the mix and I'm peachy!

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings

Lucky Friday The 13th

A Lucky Friday The 13th

Large Explosion In St. Catharines

One Seriously Injured After Large Explosion In St. Catharines