7 Myths Surrounding Friday the 13th – Do you have a fear of Friday the 13th? If so, you have a condition called paraskevidekatriaphobia. Some people are so fearful of this date that they don’t even leave their homes. As a result of so many people staying indoors on Friday the 13th, airfares are cheaper, and there is less traffic. But what’s the big deal about this date? Why do people consider it unlucky?
Since 7 is considered a lucky number, we thought we would balance things out by giving 7 myths about Friday the 13th and the supposedly unlucky number 13.
1. The Last Supper Had 13 Guests
Jesus had one last meal with his 12 disciples before his crucifixion. This means there were 13 guests at the last supper. It is believed that Judas was the 13th person to take his seat. Judas is infamous for betraying Jesus and committing suicide afterward.
2. The God of Mischief and Disorder was the 13th Guest
According to Norse mythology, when 12 gods sat down together at a feast, an unwelcome guest named Loki showed up. Loki was the god of mischief and disorder. Because there were 13 guests at the table, one of the gods died during the meal. Still, to this day, some hosts refuse to have 13 guests at their table for fear, one of them will die.
3. The Biblical Meaning for the Number 13 Isn’t Good
In the Bible, the number 13 is often associated with rebellion and lawlessness. This number represents all the governments that were created by man and inspired by Satan. In the book of Mark, Jesus says 13 things defile a person. Some of these things include evil thoughts, murders, thefts, wickedness, pride, and an evil eye.
4. Friday Is an Unlucky Day of the Week
Many people love Friday. In fact, you have probably exclaimed, “Thank God It’s Friday.” However, Friday is historically an unlucky day of the week. This goes back to the 14th century when Geoffrey Chaucer wrote Canterbury Tales. Chaucer wrote, “and on a Friday fell all this mischance.” In Britain, Friday was the day when criminals were hung. For this reason, Friday became known as Hangman’s Day.
5. The Arrest of the Knights of Templar Began on Friday the 13th
The Knights of Templar were a Catholic military order founded in 1119. They were also known for being proficient bankers. After losing the war to England, King Philip IV of France became heavily indebted to the Knights. On Friday the 13th, the king ordered the arrest of all Templars. Following a trial in Paris, some of the Templars were burned at the stake.
6. The Curse of 13 Letters in a Name
According to an old superstition, if you have 13 letters in your first and last name, you are cursed. You might laugh at this idea, but here are some names with 13 letters:
Charles Manson
Jeffrey Dahmer
Adolfus Hitler (the baptismal name of Adolf Hitler)
Saddam Hussein
Osama bin Laden
Of course, this doesn’t mean that if you have 13 letters in your name, you are an evil person. But, interestingly, so many evil people have 13 letters in their name.
7. An Italian Composer Died on Friday the 13th
This might not seem like such a big deal. There are probably a lot of people who die on Friday the 13th. However, the Italian composer Gioachino Rossini, regarded Fridays as an unlucky day. He also regarded the number 13 as an unlucky number. He died on November 13th, 1868. It was a Friday.
What do you think of Friday the 13th? Do you stay indoors? Do you purposely avoid having appointments or events on this day? If so, you’re certainly not alone.
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