Friday the 13th is a deeply embedded superstition in Western culture, with the belief that it can bring misfortune. This irrational fear is known as paraskevidekatriaphobia, a specialized form of triskaidekaphobia, a fear of the number 13.
Charles Panati's book "Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things" links the cursed concept to Norse mythology, where Loki gate-crashed a banquet in Valhalla, tricking Hodr into killing his brother Balder. The 13th guest, Loki, disrupted the group's dinner party, leading to a bad reputation.
The superstition spread throughout Europe, becoming established in the Mediterranean by the Christian era. The Last Supper, attended by Jesus Christ and his disciples, cemented the unsettling power of numerals.
Jesus' Last Supper incident led to the superstition that having 13 guests at a table was a bad omen, as Judas stabbed him in the back.
It is supposed the day that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, Cain murdered Abel, toppled the Temple of Solomon, and Noah's ark sailed in the Great Flood.
Friday the 13th is a day of significant events, including the death of rap legend Tupac Shakur in 1996 and the disappearance of a Uruguayan Air Force plane in 1972.
The date is also associated with 16 survivors who were forced to eat the dead passengers to survive. This has led to increased awareness and concern about the potential dangers of Friday the 13th.
In 2010, a 13-year-old boy from Suffolk was struck by lightning on Friday the 13th at 13:13.
Airlines like Ryanair, Air France, and Lufthansa have avoided adding a 13th row to their planes, while cruise liners, hotels, and lift manufacturers also avoid it.
There were a lot of events unexpectedly occurred on Friday the 13th, leading to increased fear among the public.
Furthermore, people frequently avoid doing the following things on this day for fear of getting into trouble: getting into encounters with black cats, opening umbrellas in the house, or breaking mirrors.
On the opposite, Taylor Swift touts it as her lucky number. During her early career, she frequently performed with a handwritten number on her hand.
“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 one song had a 13-second intro,” she told MTV in 2009.
“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. Basically, whenever a 13 comes up in my life, it’s a good thing.”
