In 2023, there were two observable Fridays 13 in the calendar: Friday January 13 and this Friday October 13, the very last of the year. But why exactly is Friday the 13th so feared? On the other hand, why do some people think it’s the perfect day to get lucky? And above all: what are the origins of this superstition? We answer all your questions!
2 Fridays the 13th in 2023
It’s a fact that Friday the 13th is a particularly ambivalent day. For some, this very special day brings good luck, especially when it comes to gambling. A fact well understood by Française des Jeux with its special Friday 13th Lotto draw! For others, however, Friday the 13th brings bad luck. So much so, in fact, that some people suffer from a veritable phobia. And there’s a name for it: paraskevidékatriaphobia (irrational fear of the number 13). Rest assured, in 2023, we’ve only counted 2 Friday 13s, the last of which will take place on October 13, 2023. Phew!
The origins of superstition:
In the Christian religion, the origins of superstition refer to the death of Christ, which occurred on a Friday according to the Bible. During the last supper between Jesus and his 12 apostles, a 13th guest invited himself to the table: the traitor Judas. In Norse mythology too, the number 13 is associated with a fateful event, with the death of the God Balder at Odin’s banquet, also attended by 13 protagonists. In addition to the symbolism associated with the Last Supper and Norse mythology, other beliefs explain this superstition, such as those of historians who refer to a rural belief based on the 13 lunar cycles, symbolizing the death and renewal of the earth in spring.
“13 à table”, 13 lunar cycles, “13” breaker of harmony and perfection, 13th Arcanum of the Tarot de Marseille: theories
Furthermore, in the Tarot de Marseille, the 13th Arcanum, known as the “Nameless Arcanum” or the blade of Death, depicts a skeleton holding a scythe. While some see it literally as a message filled with negativity, astrologers consider its message to be rather positive, symbolizing passage and the transition to a new life. For the Greeks and Romans, 13 represented a destroyer of harmony. A symbol of perfection, the number 12 echoes the 12 tribes of Israel, the 12 moons of the year, the 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night, the 12 signs of the zodiac and the 12 labors of Hercules… It is in this sense that the number 13 would bring bad luck, undeniably breaking this sign of perfection and harmony embodied by the 12.
While in the collective unconscious, Friday the 13th is said to be a bad omen, in some cultures it’s a positive sign. So, is this very special day good luck or bad luck? We look forward to hearing from you!