The Story Behind Friday the 13th: Why We Think It’s Unlucky
Many people feel uneasy about Friday the 13th, believing it brings bad luck. But how did this superstition start? It turns out that both the number 13 and Fridays have long been seen as unlucky—and when they’re combined, the bad vibes grow even stronger.
The fear of the number 13 goes way back. In Norse mythology, there’s a story where 12 gods were having a feast in Valhalla. Loki, the god of mischief, showed up as the uninvited 13th guest and caused chaos, leading to the death of a beloved god. Ever since 13 has been viewed as unlucky.
In Christian tradition, the number 13 is also linked to bad luck. At The Last Supper, there were 13 people at the table—Jesus and his 12 apostles. Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th person to sit down. This betrayal led to Jesus's crucifixion, reinforcing the idea that 13 brings bad luck.
Fridays have also been seen as unlucky, especially in Christian tradition. Jesus was crucified on a Friday, and some believe Eve tempted Adam with the forbidden fruit on a Friday. Throughout history, people have avoided making big decisions or starting new projects on Fridays, thinking it might lead to bad outcomes.
It wasn’t until the 19th and 20th centuries that Friday the 13th became a well-known superstition. In 1907, a book called Friday the Thirteenth by Thomas W. Lawson helped popularize the idea. In the story, a corrupt broker uses superstition to cause panic on Wall Street.
Despite the superstition, there’s no real evidence that more bad things happen on Friday the 13th than on any other day. However, some people still go out of their way to avoid travel, big decisions, or important events on this day. Some buildings even skip labeling the 13th floor!
In the end, Friday the 13th is more of a fun superstition than a real danger. Whether you believe in it or not, it’s interesting to see how ancient stories, religion, and pop culture have kept this superstition alive for centuries.
No comments:
Post a Comment