Where Did Friday the 13th Originate From?

Friday the 13th is one of those days of the year (although in some years, it occurs many times) that strikes fear into the hearts of those who are superstitious. According to popular culture around the world, Friday the 13th is unlucky, and any manner of bad—even evil—thing may occur before Saturday rolls around. To most, this superstition is little more than folklore and foolishness, but this bit of lore actually has its roots in religious traditions. Of course, Fridays that fall on the 13th day of a month have been around since records were kept of days and weeks; but fear of Friday the 13th has existed for centuries.

Ever since Jesus was crucified on Good Friday, Christians have had a disdain for that day of the week.

Hangings in England often took place on a Friday, and supposedly the walk to the noose took 13 steps.

Fear continues into modernity, with the urban legend of a British sailing ship Friday that left with 13 crewmembers on Friday the 13th and a captain named Friday, never again to return.

Superstition about the day abounds to the point that it is considered the most widespread superstition in the western world.

Fears About the Number 13

There are numerous fears connected with the number 13, which is widely considered in Western culture to be extremely unlucky, and these fears may provide part of the answer as to the orgin of the superstitions about Friday the 13th.

• Jesus and his disciples totaled thirteen, and many believe that Judas was the 13th individual to be seated at the Last Supper.
• Ancient Persians feared the number 13, believing that it brought with it chaos and destruction.
• In Norse mythology, Loki, the god of chaos, is believed to be the thirteenth god in the pantheon.
• The Norse goddess Frigg, after whom Friday is named, was said to have joined a coven of twelve witches, resulting in a gathering of 13.
• The number is also said to represent the devil’s presence in a coven. 
• Moreover, the Knights Templar were arrested on a Friday the 13th in the 1300s. The Freemasons, who were said to have connections with the original Knights Templar, may have perpetuated the fear and superstition connected with the number.
• Apollo 13, the doomed mission to the moon that nearly did not make it back home, launched at 13:13.
• Many elevators, airports, and public buildings avoid have rooms and floors with the number 13, and go straight from 12 to 14.

Fighting the Myth of Friday the 13th

No one can explain exactly why Friday the 13th has been considered unlucky for so long, although the myths and superstitions about the number 13 and the unlucky Friday certainly combined at some point.

The myth was particularly pronounced in America in the mid-1800s, when individuals refused to work, go on trips, or even step outside of their houses on Friday the 13th. However, before the 1800s, there is little evidence to suggest that the myth was as widespread as what it is today.

In an effort to combat the myth, some people have taken some rather extraordinary measures. In 1881, a Civil War general named William Fowler rented out the 13th room of a club, and invited 12 guests to gather at 8:13 pm for dinner. It was Friday the 13th, and none of the people met their demise as a result. Various presidents throughout history have joined such groups to demythologize the frightening day of the year.

Friday the 13th Today

Are the myths completely without merit? Is Friday the 13th truly unlucky? There is obviously no reason to worry about the number and the day of the week (after all, bad things happen year-round), but a bit of research done in 1993 turned up some interesting answers.

As a matter of fact, car accidents resulting in serious injury are more common on Friday the 13th than on other Fridays throughout the year, perhaps as a result of fear and nervousness on the part of drivers. The researchers who conducted the study ended their paper with the eerie and ominous lines:

“Friday the 13th is unlucky for some … Staying at home is recommended.”

No matter how one decides to look at it, the number 13 and Friday the 13th may be getting a bad rap; and, this could be a big part of the answer to where the fears about Friday the 13th originated.