Considered by many as synonymous with bad luck, Friday the 13th is a day when superstitious people often take extra precautions to avoid misfortune.
Many associate this day with the famous horror movie, where a group of camp counselors are stalked by a machete-wielding killer; however, the history behind this ominous date goes far beyond a slasher film.
What is the story behind Friday the 13th?
The fear of this date is not recent, as it dates back to the 14th century, specifically to Friday, October 13, 1307, during the time of the Knights Templar.
On that day, the Knights Templar in Paris were arrested and burned at the stake… a horrific massacre that marked a dark chapter in the history of the Catholic Church.
At that time, the Knights Templar were a powerful order with great economic influence, and many (including the French Crown) sought loans from them. They were also considered the armed wing of the Catholic Church.
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However, King Philip IV was not very pleased with them, as he coveted the Templar fortune.
To achieve this, he persuaded Pope Clement V to initiate a process against them, falsely accusing them of heresy, sodomy, sacrilege, homosexuality, and idol worship.
At that time, the pope refused to start a persecution of the order because he wanted the Templars’ help to launch a new military crusade in Palestine. However, after receiving a negative response from Grand Master Jacques de Molay, Clement V decided to listen to the king.
Thus, on October 12, 1307, Molay and his followers were arrested and imprisoned. Hours later, in the early morning of Friday, October 13, the majority of the Templars were exterminated.
Just before being burned at the stake, the last Grand Master made a prophetic threat: “God knows we have been brought to the brink of death unjustly. A great calamity will soon fall upon those who condemned us without respecting true justice. God will take revenge for our death. I will perish with this certainty.”
Almost a year later, both King Philip IV and Pope Clement V died. The people claimed that Jacques de Molay had left behind a sort of curse, and from that date on, Friday the 13th was considered unlucky.
What other misfortunes occurred on a Friday the 13th?
- January 13, 1939: Wildfires killed 36 people and destroyed several cities in Victoria, Australia.
- September 13, 1940: Buckingham Palace was bombed by Nazi Germany.
- March 13, 1964: Kitty Genovese was murdered in Queens, New York.
- October 13, 1972: Two airplanes crashed; one was carrying a Uruguayan rugby team.
- September 13, 1996: Rapper Tupac Shakur was murdered in Las Vegas.
- January 13, 2012: The Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia sank off the coast of the island of Giglio.
- March 13, 2020: Donald Trump declared a national emergency due to COVID-19.
What does the number 13 mean?
In many cultures, the number 13 is associated with bad luck, though in Catholicism, it’s an exception.
Jesus’ crucifixion occurred on a Friday the 13th, and at the Last Supper, there were 12 apostles, plus Jesus, making a total of 13. Additionally, in chapter 13 of the Book of Revelation, the arrival of the Antichrist is mentioned, which has contributed to the association of the number 13 with bad luck.
In Norse mythology, Loki, the mischievous god, was the last to arrive at a feast in Valhalla and, after tricking another guest, caused the death of the god Baldur. According to the Kabbalah, there are 13 evil spirits, and in tarot, the number 13 card symbolizes death.
Superstition surrounding the number 13 has led to various omissions and changes in different areas. For example, after the Apollo 13 disaster, NASA stopped numbering its manned space missions in that way. Many airlines avoid assigning seat 13 on their planes, and some buildings skip the 13th floor, while certain cities do not have a 13th avenue. Even in some sports competitions, the number 13 is not assigned to participants.
What is the name of the fear of the number 13?
The irrational fear of the number 13 is called triscaidekaphobia.
What should you avoid on a Friday the 13th?
If you’re superstitious, it’s best to avoid doing these things on a Friday the 13th:
- Going on a trip
- Sitting in seat number 13 or taking a flight with that number
- Walking under a ladder
- Being in a meeting with exactly 13 people
- Getting up with your left foot first
- Breaking a mirror
- Spilling salt
- Opening an umbrella indoors
- Crossing paths with black cats
- Having an empty wallet
- Cutting both ends of a loaf of bread
How to prevent the bad luck of the number 13?
Although there is no scientific evidence to support the fear of this number, many people choose to seek protection from the bad luck it brings. Some things you can do include:
- Use amulets: A four-leaf clover, a horseshoe, or the evil eye are the most common symbols for good luck.
- Affirmations: The mind is very powerful; therefore, if you want to avoid bad luck, manifest what you want to happen.
