Is Friday the 13th really unlucky? Myths, superstitions and stories behind ‘jinxed’ day

The concept Friday the thirteenth is unfortunate is as acquainted in western superstition as not strolling underneath ladders, being cautious of black cats crossing your path and breaking a mirror.

They happen any month the primary day begins on a Sunday, which occurs at the least yearly. That is the second of the 12 months – the primary was in January. For a lot of, there’s an additional aspect of superstition because it lands in October, the month of Halloween.

Why is a Friday unfortunate?

The affiliation between the quantity 13 and dangerous luck has a protracted historical past with roots in Norse mythology, Christianity and Greek gods. Its connection to Friday, nevertheless, has extra opaque origins.

Though historians usually agree the hyperlink between Friday and the quantity 13 wasn’t actually established till the nineteenth century, one explicit Friday the thirteenth within the 14th century stays well-known as the start of the top of the Knights Templar.

After centuries of constructing energy and wealth, the downfall of the European monastic army order started within the early morning hours of Friday, October 13, 1307, with a collection of arrests.

Within the UK, Friday was once often called “Hangman’s Day”, when those that had been condemned to loss of life can be despatched to the gallows.

Cementing the day as an unfortunate one was a novel by American businessman Thomas W Lawson, titled Friday, the Thirteenth, through which a dealer capitalises on superstition to start out a panic on Wall Avenue on Friday the thirteenth.

The worry of Friday the thirteenth is known as paraskevidekatriaphobia.

Why is the quantity 13 unfortunate?

Many cultures have superstitions centred on the quantity 13.

In accordance with folklore, the quantity gained its unfortunate connotations in Norse mythology, owing to a narrative about 12 gods at a cocktail party in Valhalla. Uninvited, Loki reveals up because the thirteenth visitor and persuades Hoor, the blind son of Odin, to shoot Balder, one other of Odin’s sons, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. Balder dies and the tragedy is related to the quantity 13.

In Christianity, there have been 12 disciples at Jesus Christ’s final supper on Maundy Thursday, the night time earlier than his crucifixion. Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would betray Jesus, was the thirteenth man to take his seat.

Nods to the superstition may be present in trendy tradition, with many buildings omitting a thirteenth flooring, going from 12 straight to 14, whereas some airways should not have a row 13.

Tuesday the thirteenth and Friday the seventeenth are unfortunate, too

In Hispanic and Greek tradition, Tuesday the thirteenth is historically thought of an unfortunate day and is called martes trece. In Greece, Tuesday is the day related to Ares the god of warfare, and Constantinople, because it was then referred to as, fell twice on a Tuesday: in 1204 through the Fourth Campaign, and in 1453 to the Ottomans.

In Italy, the quantity 13 is definitely thought of fortunate, and Friday the seventeenth is the unfortunate day. Alitalia, the nation’s airline, doesn’t function row 17 on its planes.

The connection between the quantity 17 and dangerous luck is owing to the Roman numerals for 17, XVII, which when rearranged create the phrase VIXI. The phrase interprets as “I’ve lived”, the previous tense of which means loss of life.

Can Friday the thirteenth additionally convey luck?

Regardless of its fame, the day also can show fortunate for some. In January, one Dubai resident gained a life-changing Dh15 million ($4.08 million) on Friday the thirteenth.

Russel Reyes Tuazon from the Philippines, a storekeeper for a Brazilian restaurant, scooped the grand prize within the Emirates Draw. Tuazon used his date of beginning, age and the birthdays of his son, sister and mom amongst his alternative of digits for the draw.

“Once I got here to this nation as a teen, I had no thought my life may change the way in which it did,” he stated following his win.

Occasions within the UAE

Friday the thirteenth has additionally change into an excellent advertising instrument, and the UAE isn’t any completely different.

Rooms of Doom, a horror pop-up has opened at Metropolis Centre Mirdiff. A partnership between Common Footage and Blumhouse, the manufacturing firm behind horror hits resembling M3GAN, The Black Cellphone and The Invisible Man, Rooms of Doom options two rooms impressed by new releases, The Exorcist: Believer and 5 Nights at Freddy’s.

Reel Cinemas has additionally launched a Horror Cross the place, for Dh99, viewers can watch three horror films – the 2 beforehand talked about in addition to Noticed X – all through October.

Roxy Cinemas is internet hosting an unique screening of The Exorcist: Believer, the sixth instalment of The Exorcist franchise, at its department in Dubai Hills Mall. The occasion will function a efficiency by dwell actors from International Village‘s Home of Fears, in addition to Halloween-themed meals. Screenings will probably be held at Roxy Silver (10pm) and Roxy Xtreme (11.30pm). Extra data is accessible at theroxycinemas.com.

In Abu Dhabi, The WB Abu Dhabi – the world’s first and solely Warner Bros resort – is internet hosting two occasions, one on Friday and the opposite on October 31, for Halloween. The resort’s rooftop lounge, The Overlook, will display a choice of horror classics, resembling Friday the thirteenth, The Exorcist, IT and A Nightmare on Elm Avenue. A particular Halloween menu has additionally been ready. Reservations may be made by way of 02 815 0000 or [email protected].