Why are people so afraid of Friday the 13th?
Published on Wed Apr 11 2018 in Community
At least once a year Friday the 13th will appear on our calendars. This is a day full of superstition, causing mild dread for some and striking outright fear in the hearts of others. But why are we more afraid of this date than any other? What makes it so particularly scary in the Western world?
Let’s take a look at the myths and history surrounding the dreaded Friday the 13th.
Unlucky number 13
In many Western cultures, the number 13 is considered unlucky. How this fear, officially known as Triskaidekaphobia, came to be is unclear. Its origin has been tied to everything from ancient legal documents to the Bible.
An early myth involves the Code of Hammurabi, one of the oldest and most complete written legal codes. It was said that there was no 13th law in the code, instead jumping from number 12 directly to number 14. However, this was a mistake made by translators, who failed to include one line of text. The code doesn’t number its laws at all.
More likely the origins for “unlucky 13” come from both the Bible and Norse mythology. In the story of the Last Supper, Judas Iscariot is the thirteenth and last guest to arrive, and is the person who betrays Jesus. The god Loki in Norse mythology was also the thirteenth guest at a dinner party. Loki is a mischievous trickster, who upset the balance of the other 12 gods attending the meal.
Meanwhile, in ancient Rome, witches were believed to gather in groups of 12. The 13th member of their party was believed to be the devil.
Black Friday
Friday is also considered bad luck by some. And like the number 13, superstition surrounding this day of the week also has a connection to Christianity. Jesus was crucified on a Friday, a major event on the Christian calendar. Some theologians believe that other unfortunate biblical occasions also happened on a Friday. This includes Adam and Eve eating from the forbidden fruit and the start of the Great Flood.
History is filled with other events that add to the superstition. In 1306, King Philip IV of France arrested the Knights Templar and began torturing them. The date of their arrest—Friday the 13th. More recent history includes other events, such as the 1939 “Black Friday” fires in Australia, the deadliest cyclone in history striking Bangladesh on 13 November 1970 (a Friday), and the Costa Concordia cruise ship capsizing on a Friday the 13th in 2012.
Just another day—or is it?
Friday the 13th combines two unlucky elements to create a day that many people would rather avoid. But surely this superstition doesn’t impact people’s lives all that much? Surprisingly, a wariness of Friday the 13th seems to shape our routines on the day.
It’s estimated that up to 21 million people in the United States1 fear Friday the 13th. This may take the form of mild anxiety, full panic attacks and everything in between. Some people rearrange their entire diary on the day—rescheduling appointments, avoiding travel or even staying home from work. All this activity may result in some $900 million USD of lost business1 each Friday the 13th.
A 1993 study found that there were more traffic-related accidents in the United Kingdom on Friday the 13th, compared to a randomly chosen Friday.2 However, a Dutch study found the opposite was true in the Netherlands. The Dutch Centre for Insurance Statistics found that compared to other Fridays, fewer accidents and reports of fire and theft occur when the 13th of the month is a Friday.3
Not so scary for everyone
Whilst people may hold different levels of superstition around Friday the 13th, for some cultures it isn’t a day to fear at all. Both Greeks and those living in Spanish-speaking countries consider Tuesday the 13th to be a day of bad luck. For Italians, Friday the 17th is an unlucky date. In fact, the number 13 is considered lucky in Italy!
Similarly, the number four is avoided throughout much of Asia. The word four sounds similar to the word death in varieties of Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese. Whilst buildings in Western nations may “skip” the thirteenth floor, architects in Asia may do the same with the fourth floor. Finally, the 4th of April is considered especially unlucky in some Asian countries, similar to Friday the 13th.
Very superstitious
Do you fear Friday the 13th? Let us know how you mark this date—whether it’s by acting extra cautious, staying home or not worrying about it at all! Share your thoughts with our Facebook community.
1. National Geographic News, Friday the 13th Phobia Rooted in Ancient History
2. British Medical Journal, Is Friday the 13th bad for your health?
3. Reuters, Friday 13th not more unlucky, Dutch study shows
About Author: Momentum Life is a leading provider of Life insurance and Funeral insurance in New Zealand.
TAGS:
The content provided in this article is for information purposes only. The information is of a general nature and does not constitute financial advice or other professional advice. To the extent that any of the content constitutes financial advice, it is limited to Momentum Life products only and does not consider your specific financial needs or goals. You should consider whether the information is appropriate for you and seek independent professional advice, if required.
All product information is correct at the time this article was published. For current product information, please visit the Momentum Life website.