What are the origins of Friday 13th being seen as a spooky day?

Virgin Radio

13 Oct 2023, 15:36

Friday the 13th is considered as unlucky by many, but why?

This year it falls in October too, which is seen to make it an exceptionally spooky day.

The 13th falls on a Friday roughly once a year, but depending on the calendar it can happen three times.

The last Friday 13th was in January for 2023.

In 2015 there were three, in February, March and November.

The next time there will be three will be in 2026.

CNN says that before Friday the 13th had an association with bad luck, there were numerous incidents that caused people to dislike the number 13.

The number is connected to story of The Last Supper, with Judas Iscariot being the 13th guest before betraying Jesus.

In Norse mythology, the number of gods present at a dinner in Valhalla increased to 13 when Loki arrived.

In some Greek and Spanish-speaking countries, Tuesday 13th is considered bad luck.

In Italy Friday the 17th is considered to be bad luck.

Not everyone sees it as unlucky though, as Taylor Swift says 13 is her lucky number: "I was born on the 13th. I turned 13 on Friday the 13th. My first album went gold in 13 weeks. My first No. 1 song had a 13-second intro. Every time I've won an award I've been seated in either the 13th seat, the 13th row, the 13th section or row M, which is the 13th letter."