Friday the 13th: Superstitions, Luck, Facts and History

By ERIC KIEFER (Patch Staff)

WILMINGTON, MA - It’s here again … Friday the 13th.

On Friday, an estimated 60 million people across the planet will start to stress out due to friggatriskaidekaphobia, the fear of Friday the 13th.

The exact origins of the superstition is unclear, but some historians speculate that it has to do with the combination of two superstitions—that Friday is an unlucky day, and 13 is an unlucky number.

The number 13 has been considered unlucky as far back as biblical times, when the 13th guest at the Last Supper betrayed Jesus. It might even date further back, to Norse mythology, which featured 13 gods who all met grisly ends.

In numerology the number 12 is considered the number of completeness, as evidence the 12 months of the year, 12 hours of the clock, 12 gods of Olympus and so on. The number 13, however, is considered irregular.

According to Snopes.com – which officially declares the myth that the day is fraught with peril to be a “legend” – some reportedly unlucky endeavors to undertake on Friday the 13th include:

• Beginning a journey/voyage
• Giving birth
• Getting married
• Recovering from illness
• Moving to a new home
• Starting a new job

Be honest, do you think Friday the 13th is unlucky? Tell us in the comments section below.