For many people it is a day that they take a moment to think about. Could something possibly go wrong today? Where does this superstition come from and is it really such a bad day?
The origin
There are several explanations as to why Friday the 13th could be considered an unlucky day.
Religious background
Perhaps superstition developed through religion. At the last supper there were 13 people at the table (Jesus and 12 disciples). Jesus died on a Friday and on this day Judas also hanged himself. It is even said that Adam was tempted by Eve to eat the apple one Friday.
Tarot deck
This deck of cards, which was used for divination, could also have caused the fear of the number 13. The medieval tarot card contains card 13, which contains the image of a skeleton with a scythe. Although this image was used in the Middle Ages to predict social changes, we later came to interpret this card as death
Scandinavia
Finally, it is also possible that our superstitions come from Scandinavian countries. Thirteen witches are said to have celebrated here every Friday night in the company of black cats and caused a lot of mischief. It is also stated that a Norse saga about the evil god Loki is said to have caused the superstition. This god came as an uninvited thirteenth guest at a party and plunged the earth into mourning. Of course there are plenty of fairy tales in which the number 13 plays a major role. The question is whether these stories were created or adapted before or after the superstition arose.
Does the 13th really bring bad luck?
If we look at the facts based on reports from insurers, collected by the Center for Insurance Statistics, this is not so bad. On average, there are slightly more car damage reports on a normal Friday than on Friday the 13th. The number of fire reports on Friday the 13th is also lower than on a normal Friday. However, it can be said that the average claim amount on this day is slightly higher than normal.
Perhaps because of superstition, we are all a lot more alert to dangerous situations on a Friday the 13th, which actually prevents damage and makes us actually safer than on an average Friday.
Other facts about the 13th
- Usually hotels do not have room 13. On airplanes, row 13 is also skipped for convenience to avoid panic. It even goes so far as to “skip” the 13th floor in high buildings.
- At the coven (meeting) of the twelve witches, the devil would be present as the thirteenth member. The number thirteen is also called the devil’s dozen
- Princess Diana drove into the 13th pillar of the Place de l’Alma when she died in Paris
- Paraskevidekatriaphobia is the official name for the fear of Friday the 13th
- The word unlucky number has 13 letters
- The cultures with lunar calendars and thirteen months do not associate the number 13 with anything sinister at all.
- In Formula 1, starting number 13 is not used
- The number thirteen is also called the devil’s dozen.