Despite its somewhat murky origins, the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th is deeply ingrained in Western culture. This fear of the date is so intense that it even has a name – paraskevidekatriaphobia.
Interestingly, the Gregorian calendar makes the 13th of any month slightly more likely to fall on a Friday than any other day of the week. However, this superstition is not universal. In Greece and Spanish-speaking countries, Tuesday the 13th is considered unlucky, while in Italy, it is Friday the 17th that is feared.
The superstition of Friday the 13th has roots in both religious and cultural history. The Last Supper in Christian tradition had 13 attendees, with the 13th guest, Judas Iscariot, betraying Jesus and leading to his crucifixion.
In Norse mythology, Loki, the god of mischief, crashed a banquet in Valhalla, bringing the number of gods in attendance to 13. He tricked the blind god Hodr into killing his brother Balder, the god of light, joy, and goodness, further cementing the superstition around the number 13.
The combination of Friday and the number 13 as a symbol of misfortune is a relatively recent phenomenon, dating back to the Victorian era. The superstition was popularized in the 20th century through Thomas W. Lawson’s novel “Friday, the Thirteenth” and later through the “Friday the 13th” slasher film franchise.
However, both Fridays and the number 13 have also been seen as symbols of good fortune. In pagan times, Friday was associated with the divine feminine, linked to Frigg, the Norse goddess of love, marriage, and motherhood. The number 13 was linked to lunar and menstrual cycles, symbolizing feminine power.
Despite its ominous reputation, some, like pop star Taylor Swift, consider 13 to be a lucky number. Swift, who was born on the 13th and saw her first album go gold in 13 weeks, often performed with the number written on her hand early in her career.
As conversations around the role of misogyny in silencing powerful women throughout history continue, the narrative of Friday the 13th and its associated female deities might soon be rewritten.
Source: NewsGPT
