Friday the 13th is widely regarded as an unlucky day, a superstition that historians and folklorists trace to biblical events, a medieval massacre, and Norse mythology. Despite its fame, many people admit they do not know why the date carries such ominous meaning.
Biblical Roots and the Last Supper
The association of Friday the 13th with bad luck is said to originate from the Last Supper, attended by 13 people: Jesus and his disciples. The following day, Good Friday, Jesus was crucified. According to legend, the number 13 has long been linked to Judas, who betrayed Christ, and is seen as the imperfect 13 in contrast to the 12, which symbolises the months of the year.
Steve Roud, author of The Penguin Guide to the Superstitions of Britain and Ireland, previously told the BBC: "Because Friday was the day of the crucifixion, Fridays were always regarded as a day of penance and abstinence. This religious belief spilled over into a general dislike of starting anything – or doing anything important – on a Friday."
Folklorist Anne Marie Lagram suggests explanations for the "unlucky 13" include the number of people at the Last Supper or the number of witches needed to form a coven. She noted that the Victorians were the first to make the connection, adding: "They were intrigued by folklore and put Friday and 13 together and created a doubly unlucky day."
The Knights Templar Theory
Some historians trace the superstition to Friday, October 13, 1307, when France's King Philip IV ordered the sudden arrest of hundreds of Knights Templar, a powerful Catholic military order. The knights were seized on fabricated charges, including claims that recruits were forced to spit on the cross and renounce Christ.
The allegations proved convenient for the indebted king, who confiscated the order's assets and eliminated debts owed from conflicts with England. Captured knights were tortured into false confessions, and many were burned at the stake, a story that still unsettles people today.
Norse Mythology and Loki's Tale
The dread of the number 13 also extends to ancient Norse mythology. According to folklore historians, the negative association comes from a myth about a banquet in Valhalla, where 12 gods were invited but the trickster god Loki arrived uninvited as the 13th guest.
Loki deceived Hodr, the blind god of winter, into shooting his brother Balder the Good with a magical spear tipped with mistletoe, the only substance that could harm him. Balder's death cast the world into darkness and grief, forever marking the number 13 as a symbol of doom, betrayal, and misfortune.
