Why Friday 13th is considered unlucky – scary superstitions explained
The day of Friday the 13th has finally arrived this September 2019 and many will be expecting bad luck to befall them at this time – but where does the superstition come from?
Fear of the number 13 is believed to have begun in the Middle Ages, arising out of fear of the number of individuals present on Maundy Thursday in the story of the last supper and crucifixion of Jesus Christ in the Christian bible.
It is believed by many to be due to the treacherous disciple Judas Iscariot being the thirteenth guest to sit down for Jesus’ last supper.
Some writings also believed that the day of Friday was unlucky in and of itself, making it paired with the number 13 to be doubly troublesome.
One theorised historical reason for the fear is the that it was on Friday 13 October 1307 that French King Philip IV arrested hundreds of members of the Knights Templar on this day, invoking supernatural wrath (as recorded in various fiction including The Iron King by Maurice Druon in 1955).
However, others have pointed to the 1907 novel Friday the Thirteenth by Thomas W. Lawson for increasing superstition around the date as the story sees a broker use the concerns about the date to start a panic on Wall Street.
So there appears to be no clear-cut answer to the fear of the date, but don’t stress to much about it. Or should you?
Are you scared of Friday 13th? Let us know in the comments below.
