Why Is Friday 13th Considered Unlucky?
There are negative connotations associated with both the day of the week of Friday and the number 13.
The Number 13
- Jesus was the 13th person to his 12 apostles in the Last Supper
- 13 is thought as irregular and incomplete. It falls after the number 12 which symbolizes completeness ex: 12 months in a year, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 Apostles of Jesus, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 hours on a clock, etc.
- A lot of buildings do not have a 13th floor.
The Day Friday
- Cain slayed Abel on Friday the 13th
- Eve tempted Adam with the Forbidden Fruit on Friday
- Jesus was crucified on a Friday
- The Canterbury Tales regarded Friday as an unlucky day to start something new
- Black Friday has been associated with stock market crashes, etc. since the 1900s.
The combination of these two superstitions has created the post-1800 superstition associated with Friday the 13th.
Friday the 13th is considered to be an unlucky day in much of Western Europe, North America, and Australia. Many people avoid travelling or signing contracts on Friday the 13th. Floors in tall buildings often skip from 12 to 14, and while the superstition is believed to be fading, it nonetheless has deep roots in both Christian and pagan culture.
