How Far Back in History Does the Superstition of Friday the 13th Go?

Happy Friday the 13th! While it's almost impossible to pinpoint the exact moment when people began associating this date with bad luck and superstition, there are a few key events and historical references from which we can trace its origins. Let's delve deeper into the origins of Friday the 13th and how this combination of two 'unlucky' elements came to be regarded as particularly ominous.

Unlucky Friday

Friday, in and of itself, has a long history of being considered an unlucky day. According to Christian belief, Friday holds a significant place in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, marking the day when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, and Cain killed his brother Abel. In Christian tradition, Fridays during Lent are often associated with prayer and penitence due to the perceived evil associated with the day. As early as the 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, in his Canterbury Tales, referred to Friday as a “day of misfortune.”

Unlucky Number 13

The number 13 has also been associated with bad luck and superstition for centuries. There are several well-known reasons for this:

In Norse mythology, the god Loki was the 13th guest to crash a party where he brought disaster to those present, including killing the god Baldr. According to Christian tradition, Judas Iscariot, the 13th guest at the Last Supper, betrayed Jesus, leading to his arrest and crucifixion. This event has been deeply etched in cultural memory as a night of betrayal. The Knights Templar were arrested on October 13, 1307, by King Philip IV of France, marking a significant time in history as they were seen as a threat to both Church and state. Additionally, the number 12 is considered complete and perfect in many cultures, with 13 appearing as a number just one step away, potentially disrupting this perfection. For instance, the 12 signs of the zodiac, the 12 hours in a day, and the 12 days of Christmas are just a few examples of why 13 might be perceived as an unnatural or unlucky number.

Combining Friday and 13: The Early References

While Friday and the number 13 were believed to be unlucky independently, their combination didn’t become a widespread superstition until the early 20th century. In 1907, the American author T. W. Lawson wrote a controversial novel titled Friday the Thirteenth. This novel depicted an unscrupulous financier exploiting the superstition for personal gain. This fictional account may be one of the earliest recorded instances of the specific date being associated with bad luck.

The Modern Era and Beyond

The phenomenon of Friday the 13th reaching its peak in the 1970s in the United States coincides with a period of heightened interest in the occult and superstition. It also marked the release of the iconic slasher film Friday the 13th in 1980, cementing the superstition in popular culture and media. This film series has continued to influence and perpetuate the fear associated with the date, making it a timeless part of modern folklore.

Is the Superstition Real?

A better question might be: why do some people believe Friday the 13th is unlucky? In reality, neither Friday the 13th nor any other recurring date has been demonstratively proven to be unlucky. Like the superstition that a black cat brings bad luck, it is often the societal belief and cultural influence that perpetuate such notions. It is important to question these beliefs and consider the historical and cultural contexts from which they arise.