If you are not reading this article from home, it means that you are not one of the 60 million people who consider this date to be the next day and refuse to move from the house with the idea that something bad might happen to them. Various studies have shown that "third Friday" is one of the most widespread superstitions in the world, at the same time one of the most discussed.
How did the belief arise that when Friday falls on the 13th of the month it is terns? The discussion is open.
Thirteen is generally considered unlucky, and the most infamous event of this number comes from the Bible. Judas, who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th guest to sit down at the Last Supper. On the other hand, Friday is not considered a good day either, referring to the crucifixion of Jesus on the same day. In the United Kingdom and other countries, Friday was known as Hangman's Day because people sentenced to death were executed. Others refer to the day when King Philip IV executed hundreds of knights participating in the Crusades of Jerusalem.
The phobia of Friday the 13th is known as Paraskevidekatriaphobia and is a combination of two phobias: the phobia of the number 13 and the phobia of Friday.
Regarding the number 13, it is one of the most widespread superstitions that widely in buildings it happens that the 13th floor is not marked. The same with airplanes where in some cases there are no seats with the number 13. People refuse to travel on this date and planes take off almost empty.
Through online forums and articles, other cases are mentioned when tragedies or similar events happened on this day, which turned this day into a day of horror:
- a cyclone hit Bangladesh and India causing 500,000 deaths on November 13, 1970
- during World War II, the Nazis hit Buckingham Palace with 5 bombs on September 13, 1940.
- Tupac passed away on September 13, 1996.
- a 13-year-old boy was hit by a road in England at 13:13 on August 13, 2010.
It happens that such a date is repeated twice in one year and very rarely three. However – not so good news for the superstitious – there can never be a year without a Friday the 13th. But don't stress about it; it's a day like any other. :) Anyway, good luck!
