Today is Friday the 13th. This day has become synonymous with bad luck or, to some, evil forces. Why is that exactly? This week we are looking at five facts behind everything related to this particular day on the calendar.
Origins
There are various theories as to how Friday the 13th became so notorious. One possible reason is because 12 is sometimes seen considered to be a “perfect” number — the ancient Sumerians developed a numbering system using 12, there are 12 months in a calendar year, each day is comprised of two, 12-hour segments, and of course there were 12 apostles.
In fact, the superstition may be related to there being 13 people present at the Last Supper. Another theory is related to Philip IV of France arresting hundreds of members of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307. Some have also pointed to the Code of Hammurabi omitting the number 13 from its list of laws.
There remains to be a definitive answer.
Frequency
The longest period there can be between two instances of Friday the 13th is 14 months. This only occurs when a common (non-leap) year starts on a Tuesday. The shortest gap is just one month — from February to March — which happens when a common year starts on a Thursday. This occurred most recently in 2015.
This year there will be another Friday the 13th in December. There will be two more instances in 2020 (one in March and another in November). There will be three such dates on the calendar in 2023 and 2024 but just one in 2021.
The Fear of 13
Because of superstition, you may notice that many large buildings do not include a “13th floor,” with the elevator having numbers that jump from the 12th to the 14th floors. Some airplanes also omit row 13. Of course, this is a purposeful decision.
Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13. It affects horror novelist Stephen King.
Paraskevidekatriaphobia is a fear of Friday the 13th, specifically. In fact, approximately 17 to 21 million Americans are afraid of Friday the 13th. Some people are so wary of this day it is estimated the U.S. loses about $900 million in productivity on Friday the 13th.
Oddly, there is some evidence that suggests Friday the 13th is actually safer than other Fridays because people are more cautious.
Superstitions at Home and Abroad
Several notable events have taken place on a Friday the 13th, including everything from the 1940 bombing of Buckingham Palace, the 1972 disappearance of a Chilean plane in the Andes — which inspired the 1993 film, Alive — and the death of rapper Tupac Shakur in 1996.
The end of the 13th Baktun (a period of about 400 years) on the Mayan calendar supposedly foretold the 2012 apocalypse.
So is 13 an unlucky number? That depends on who you ask. Several famous athletes have worn the number over the years, including NFL quarterbacks Dan Marino and Kurt Warner, CFL quarterback Anthony Cavillo, basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain and fellow NBA superstar Steve Nash, baseball’s Alex Rodriguez, and hockey players like Pavel Datsyuk and Mats Sundin. They all had very successful careers.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders call their fans “The 13th Man.” While the Rider faithful at Mosaic Stadium — and abroad — can indeed give the team a much-needed boost, Saskatchewan ironically lost the 97th Grey Cup because a 13th man was on the field for a crucial play at the end of the game.
Not every culture considers 13 to be an unlucky number. In fact, 13 can be seen as a lucky number in Italy and in Chinese culture.
In many Spanish-speaking countries, Tuesday the 13th takes the place of Friday the 13th. Meanwhile, Italians are wary of Friday the 17th.
A Film Franchise
For people of a certain age, the term Friday the 13th is probably most closely associated with the slasher horror film franchise that debuted in 1980. The original film is about a group of camp counsellors at Camp Crystal Lake. The camp had been closed for years after several people died there. Soon after gathering at the campsite, the current group of counsellors begin dying in gruesome ways.
To date, there have been 12 films released in the series, which includes Freddy vs. Jason — a cross-over film that pits Jason against Freddy Kreuger from the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise — as well as a 2009 reboot. The fourth installment, which was released in 1984, was subtitled “The Final Chapter.” Four more films were released over the next five years.
In total, the series has earned over $466 million worldwide. It has inspired countless of imitators.
Whether you fear Friday the 13th or embrace it, be sure to have a great weekend!
