Did you know that Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day in Western superstition? It occurs when the 13th day of the month in the Gregorian calendar falls on a Friday, which happens at least once every year but can occur up to three times in the same year.
For example, 2015 had a Friday the 13th in February, March, and November; 2017 through 2020 had two Friday the 13ths each, and the years 2021 and 2022 will both have just one occurrence each. (Source: Wikipedia).
The superstition seems to relate to various things, like the story of Jesus’ last supper and crucifixion in which there were 13 individuals present in the Upper Room on the 13th of Nisan Maundy Thursday, the night before his death on Good Friday.
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While there is evidence of both Friday and the number 13 being considered unlucky, there is no record of the two items being referred to as especially unlucky in conjunction before the 19th century.
Like many superstitions that have evolved over time and across cultures, it is difficult to pinpoint the precise origins of Friday 13th.
What we do know, though, is that both Friday and the number 13 have been regarded as unlucky in certain cultures throughout history.
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In his book “Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things,” Charles Panati traces the concept of the cursed back to Norse mythology, when Loki, the god of mischief, gate-crashed a banquet in Valhalla, bringing the number of gods in attendance to 13.
Deceived by Loki, the blind god Hodr was tricked into shooting his brother Balder, the god of light, joy, and goodness, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow, killing him instantly.
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