Friday the 13th Superstitions: The Most Famous Beliefs Surrounding This Day

Friday the 13th Superstitions: Friday the 13th has long been associated with fear, bad luck, and superstition. For centuries, this day was surrounded by a cloud of mystery and apprehension, many believing it to be an unlucky one. From ancient times, myths were told, to modern-day terrors, superstitions tied to Friday the 13th have evolved over time, increasing in prowess. What are the top most famous superstitions tied to this notorious day?

Friday the 13th has a long history, but today we will discuss mainly some of the most known superstitions surrounding that day.

Why Is Friday the 13th Considered Unlucky?

Before getting into the superstitions, though, it’s worth understanding why Friday the 13th is unlucky. Much of what people fear on Friday the 13th is derived from two independent channels of superstition: the number 13 and Fridays. Both have long histories of being unlucky, and when they get together, their awful connotations multiply.

• The Number 13: Many cultures view 12 as a number of completeness (e.g., 12 months, 12 zodiac signs, 12 apostles). The number 13 is seen as a step beyond completeness, thus representing imbalance and irregularity. In Christianity, 13 guests at the Last Supper, with Judas being the 13th, has also contributed to the number’s bad reputation.
• Fridays: In Christianity, Friday is believed to be the day Jesus was crucified, adding to its unlucky connotation. For centuries, Fridays have been viewed with suspicion, particularly when it comes to major events like marriages, travel, or new ventures.

When these two unlucky symbols combine, as they do on Friday the 13th, it’s seen as an especially dangerous and inauspicious day.

1. Avoid Traveling on Friday the 13th

One of the main superstitions related to the day has it that it is not safe to travel on Friday, 13th. Whether it happens by flight, road adventure, or just a trip around town, many are afraid of having accidents on a Friday 13th. There are even reported cases when people cancel trips or reschedule their flights to avoid going about on an unlucky Friday 13th.

2. No Major Financial Decisions

Another very common superstition has to do with making big decisions and investments on Friday the 13th. A person will not sign on a Friday the 13th to buy a house, sign a contract, or even spend a lot of money for fear of running into bad luck with money. The stock market will sometimes have a downturn on Friday the 13th due to the unwillingness of some traders to bet.

3. 13 Guests at the Dinner Table

Any dinner table with 13 people on any given day is believed to be unlucky, but the bad luck associated with Friday the 13th is enhanced. Its origin dates back to the Last Supper as, in this meal, Judas, the 13th guest, betrayed Jesus. Hosts, not wanting to attract bad luck, might invite an additional guest or not fill a chair at the table rather than placing 13 people at one dinner table.

4. Breaking a Mirror on Friday, the 13th

Breaking a mirror is bad luck in itself, but breaking it on Friday the 13th multiplies the ill luck that has been brought about. Many believe that mirrors have connections to the soul, and in breaking one on this specific unlucky day, one may incur both bad luck and spiritual ill.

5. Walking Under Ladders

Probably the oldest superstition is that of walking under a ladder, which is believed in many cultures to be bad luck. Many superstitions come to a head on Friday the 13th, and a minority of people avoid ladders, construction sites, or anything that might require them to pass under one. A triangle-shaped leaning ladder was thought to represent life, and disruption was considered an invitation to bad luck.

6. Black Cats Crossing Your Path

Black cats have been linked with witchcraft, bad luck, and supernatural powers for as long as most people can recall. Most of them believe that if a black cat crosses one’s way, it is an omen for bad luck. When it happens on a Friday the 13th, however, the bad luck is much more serious. The superstition has its roots in the Middle Ages when the black cat was identified with witchcraft and believed to be the familiars of the witches.

7. Avoiding New Beginnings

There are people who shy away from starting new projects, jobs, or relationships on Friday the 13th because they believe it marks the beginning of a bad omen that could befall their new pursuits. Weddings and business ventures must also wait for another day to avoid the pitfalls that await any new beginnings started on this day.

8. Friday the 13th Phobia (Paraskevidekatriaphobia)

The fear of Friday the 13th is common enough to have earned it its own name: Paraskevidekatriaphobia. The following is said to afflict millions of people all over the world and cause phenomenal anxiety or dread that people experience before Friday the 13th. Such anxiety will make some people stay indoors on the day, awaiting potential catastrophes to arrive.

9. Full Moon on Friday, the 13th

Perhaps a full moon on Friday the 13th adds a little fuel to the bad luck day is supposed to bring. Many feel that a full moon feels emotions, causes rational unsound reactions, and accidents. With the added influence of the full moon and the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th, perhaps the day could be said to be even more potentially perilous.

10. Hospitals and Surgery on Friday, the 13th

It is believed that when surgeries or admissions to the hospital fall on Friday the 13th, complications can arise until even death. Medical practitioners and nurses even admit that sometimes patients ask not to have certain procedures done on that particular day due to medical superstition.

The date of Friday, the 13th, has long been an enthralled date for people. Although most of these superstitions seem to be linked with ancient beliefs and fear about the unknown, they yet continue to influence lives even in modern times. Whether one has faith in such superstitions or not, it sure feels as if Friday the 13th remains a fascination as well as a day of fear.

So the next time Friday the 13th rolls around, will you avoid traveling, delay major decisions, or steer clear of black cats? Or will you seize the day with a sense of adventure, challenging the superstitions that have hung around for so very long? Either way, Friday the 13th is a day that won’t be ignored anytime soon.

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