13th Friday

Friday the 13th has for centuries been associated with bad luck. Many people believe that this day is cursed and in an almost Halloween like atmosphere tell spooky tales about misfortunes that have taken place on this day. But what is the real Friday the 13th and what makes it so unlucky?



The superstition has deep, compelling roots and the origins help explain why the belief is so widespread today. In this article, we'll look at the top 5 historical events behind this unlucky day.

1. The superstition surrounding this day may have arisen in the Middle Ages, "originating from the story of Jesus' last supper and crucifixion" in which there were 13 individuals present in the Upper Room on Maundy Thursday, the night before His death on Good Friday.


2. The urban legend connecting the superstition with the date of Friday, 13 October 1307, when hundreds of the Knights Templar were arrested by King Philip IV, presumably dates to the later 20th century. It was popularized in Dan Brown's 2003 novel "The Da Vinci Code" and in John J. Robinson's 1989 work "Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry," and also in the Maurice Druon historical novel series: "The Accursed Kings."

3. Some historians suggest the Christian distrust of Fridays is actually linked to the early Catholic Church's overall suppression of pagan religions and women. In the Roman calendar, Friday was devoted to Venus, the goddess of love. When Norsemen adapted the calendar, they named the day after Frigg, or Freya, Norse goddesses connected to love and sex. Both of these strong female figures once posed a threat to male-dominated Christianity, the theory goes, so the Christian church vilified the day named after them.

4. Both Friday and the number 13 were once closely associated with capital punishment. In British tradition, Friday was the conventional day for public hangings, and there were supposedly 13 steps leading up to the noose.

5. Some trace the infamy of the number 13 back to ancient Norse culture. In Norse mythology, the beloved hero Balder was killed at a banquet by the mischievous god Loki, who crashed the party of twelve, bringing the group to 13. This story, as well as the story of the Last Supper, led to one of the most entrenched 13-related beliefs: You should never sit down to a meal in a group of 13.

Source : Latin Times