Friday the 13th, Good or Bad?

For many, Friday the 13th is a day to be superstitious. Some people choose to take the day off work to prevent possible misfortune. Others ignore the old superstition and continue as if it is just another day.

Triskaidekaphobics is the term related to those who fear Friday the 13th, but where did this fear come from and when?

According to most historians, there is no record of this superstition before the 19th century and the phenomenon is a Western superstition. In the past, the number 13 has been considered unlucky by some as has the day Friday. Logic says somewhere along the way they were paired to create Friday the 13th. The truth is no one really knows when it became popular to fear the day/date combination or why.

“No data exists, and will never exist, to confirm that the number 13 is an unlucky number,” said Igor Radun of the Human Factors and Safety Behavior Group at the University of Helsinki’s Institute of Behavioural Sciences in Finland to NBC. “There is no reason to believe that any number would be lucky or unlucky.”

In many religions, the number is a happy time or indicator. We are in a country that blossomed from 13 colonies, shown on our great seal as 13 stars. We know Taylor Swift was born on December 13th and she has no lack of luck, and numerologists like Alison Baughman have said “Thirteen, in all honesty, is a very sacred number. It’s associated with God, death, rebirth and transformation.”

Boldsky.com shares these positive interpretations of the number 13 :

In ancient Greece, Zeus was the thirteenth and the most powerful God of the Greek mythology. Thus, 13 is the symbol of incorruptible nature, power and purity.

13 is prime number and hence it can only be divisible by itself. Hence it is a complete number in itself. Thus 13th is the symbol of totality, completion and attainment.

The Thai New Year is celebrated on the 13th of April. It is considered as an auspicious day when all the bad omens are washed away by splashing water on people.

The 13th day of any month is an extremely auspicious day according to Hinduism. 13th day is Trayodashi according to the Hindu calendar. This day is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Pradosh vrat observed in the honour of Lord Shiva usually falls on the 13th day of the month. The person who worships Lord Shiva on this day is blessed with wealth, children, happiness and prosperity. Hence, 13th is considered one of the most fruitful day of the month according to Hindu beliefs.