The belief that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day is deeply rooted in Western culture. But where does this superstition come from?
Superstition did not arise from a single event, but is the result of a long and complex confluence of mythologies, religious beliefs, historical events and cultural traditions. In this post, we will explore the various origins and theories in detail, from Norse mythology to modern pop culture.
- 1. The role of Nordic mythology
Norse mythology plays a central role in the emergence of superstition surrounding the number 13. One of the most important stories from this tradition is the death of the god Baldur, who was a symbol of light, purity and innocence.
The Story of Baldur's Death
According to Norse legend, there was a banquet of the gods in Valhalla, to which 12 gods were invited. But Loki, the god of mischief and deception, unexpectedly and unannounced appeared as the 13th guest. Loki was upset that he had not been invited and decided to create chaos.
Baldur's mother, Frigg, had made all things in the world promise Baldur not to harm him, but the "mistletoe" was forgotten. Loki persuaded the blind god Höðr to throw a sprig of mistletoe at Baldur, and Baldur died. This brought great misfortune to the gods, and Baldur's death ultimately led to the escalation of events that eventually culminated in Ragnarök - the end of the world.
In this story, the number 13 is clearly portrayed as an unlucky number, as Loki's appearance as the 13th guest led directly to tragedy. This story is one of the earliest associations between the number 13 and misfortune.
In Norse mythology, Friday was originally a day that was closely associated with the goddess Freyja (or Freya) - who gave the day its name. Freyja was the goddess of love, fertility, beauty and prosperity, but also of war and death. Friday was therefore a day that was associated with positive aspects such as love, luck and fertility, which made it a lucky day. This only changed with the influence of Christianity.
- 2. Christian influences
A central origin of the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th lies in the Christian tradition. Two important events in particular are often mentioned in this context:
- The Last Supper and Judas as the 13th Guest
In the Christian Bible, the Last Supper is portrayed as one of the most important events before Jesus' crucifixion. Jesus ate this supper with his 12 disciples, a total of 13 people. The 13th participant, however, was Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus and whose actions led to Jesus' arrest and later crucifixion.
This betrayal by the 13th guest created a strong association between the number 13 and bad luck or betrayal. This idea solidified over the centuries and contributed greatly to the Western view of 13 as an unlucky number.
- The Crucifixion of Jesus on a Friday
Another important aspect is the fact that Jesus Christ was crucified on Good Friday, the day on which Christians mourn the death of the Savior. In Christian tradition, this often made Friday an unlucky day. Even in the Middle Ages, Friday was considered a day of fasting and penance, on which it was not appropriate to hold festivities or start new ventures.
The combination of Friday as an unlucky day and 13 as an unlucky number – both deeply rooted in Christianity – ultimately led to the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th.
- 3. The Knights Templar and Friday, October 13, 1307
A historical event that further reinforced superstition was the fall of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307. The Knights Templar were a powerful and influential military-religious order in the Middle Ages, but fell into disgrace due to their wealth and power.
On this day, the French King Philip IV ordered the arrest of all members of the Knights Templar. The arrests marked the beginning of the Order's decline. Many Templars were tortured, forced to confess and later executed. Friday the 13th was seen as a day of betrayal and ruin, which added to its ominous significance.
- 4. Number Symbolism in Ancient Rome and in Mathematics
In ancient Rome and Greece, the number 12 was considered a symbol of completeness and harmony. There were 12 months in the year, 12 signs of the zodiac and 12 main gods on Olympus. The number 12 was considered perfect because it is easily divisible (by 2, 3, 4 and 6). The number 13, on the other hand, exceeded this order and was perceived as irregular or disturbing.
Mathematically, the number 13 is a prime number, which means that it is only divisible by 1 and itself. In ancient times, this property was sometimes considered negative or a sign of disorder, since it did not fit into the usual divisibility.
- 5. Superstition and the Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, the negative connotations surrounding the number 13 and Friday became even more pronounced. Fridays were considered unlucky days in many Christian traditions, as they were seen as days of penance and fasting.
- Conclusion: A complex superstition with deep roots
So Friday the 13th is now not just a number and a day, but a symbol of the centuries-old belief in bad luck and misfortune – a belief that is deeply rooted in both history and mythology.