Ugh! unlucky friday the 13th!
Ominous Date: The Fear of Friday the 13th (Friday the 13th)
Friday the 13th has long been considered an ominous and superstitious day that evokes fear and trepidation. The origins of this superstition can be traced back to historical connections with Christianity, particularly in relation to Friday and the number 13.
The association of Friday with misfortune stems from the belief that it was on Friday that Jesus was crucified. This historic event cast a shadow over the day’s general bad luck, explained Michael Bailey, a professor of history at Iowa State University who specializes in the study of superstitions.
During the Middle Ages, this fear of Friday was visible in various customs. For example, weddings were usually avoided on Fridays, and it was considered bad advice to embark on a journey on that day.
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The historical context also contributes to the negative connotations associated with Friday.
Another reason for the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th is that Friday was considered an unlucky day in the Middle Ages, often called “Gallows Day,” says Stuart Vyse, a psychology professor at Connecticut College.
These historical connections have contributed to the enduring fear and superstition associated with Friday the 13th.
How many unlucky days are ahead of you in the future?
Fortunately, Friday the 13th is a relatively rare occurrence. In most years, such as 2023, we experience two Friday the 13th cases, although occasionally only one occurs in a given month. However, there are particularly unlucky years, such as 2026, in which three of these superstitious days fall.
Premature fear of Friday the 13th
You may not be alone in experiencing this fear, as it could be a case of triskaidekaphobia, which is the fear of the number 13.
Historically, the number 13 has been associated with bad luck, and is believed to be rooted in the idea that Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th person to attend the Last Supper.
Interestingly, references to Friday the 13th do not appear until the 19th century, as noted by Bailey and Vyse, making it unclear exactly when the connection between Friday and the number 13 began.
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As for the prevalence of the fear of Friday the 13th, if the number 13 itself doesn’t strike fear into you, but does when it falls on a Friday, you may be more susceptible to a condition commonly called paraskevidekatriaphobia, which specifically refers to the fear of Friday the 13th.
According to a recent survey conducted by YouGov.com, it appears that Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 may be the most concerned about this ominous date. Within this age group, almost a quarter (23%) expressed a high level of superstition.
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Source: newstars.edu.vn