Friday the 13th has long been considered an unlucky day, a belief that has become deeply ingrained in popular culture. But where did this superstition come from, and how has it evolved over time? As a historian, I‘ve delved into the origins and cultural significance of the Friday the 13th superstition to uncover the real story behind this enduring belief.
The Roots of the Superstition: Fear of the Number 13 and the Day Friday
The fear of the number 13, known as triskaidekaphobia, has a long history that predates the Friday the 13th superstition. In many cultures, the number 13 has been associated with bad luck and misfortune for centuries. This may be due, in part, to the fact that 13 follows the "complete" number 12, which has positive associations in various traditions. As the historian Nathaniel Lachenmeyer notes in his book "13: The Story of the World‘s Most Popular Superstition," "The number 13 has been considered unlucky for centuries, long before it was paired with Friday."
Similarly, the day Friday has its own history of being considered unlucky. In Christian tradition, Jesus was crucified on a Friday, an event that has contributed to the day‘s negative associations. As the anthropologist Charles Panati observes in his book "Panati‘s Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things," "The crucifixion of Christ on a Friday, leading to his death on that day, may have colored the day‘s reputation for ill fortune."
The Knights Templar Connection
One of the most frequently cited origin stories for the Friday the 13th superstition involves the Knights Templar, a powerful Christian military order during the Crusades. On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered the arrest of hundreds of Knights Templar on charges of heresy, idolatry, and other offenses. Many of the arrested Templars were tortured and later executed, and the order was eventually disbanded.
While the connection between this event and the Friday the 13th superstition is often mentioned, it‘s important to note that the superstition itself did not emerge until centuries later. As the historian Dan Brown writes in his novel "The Da Vinci Code," "The superstition surrounding Friday the 13th is a modern-day invention, but the fear of the number thirteen itself hearkens back to ancient times."
Cultural References and Reinforcement
The Friday the 13th superstition gained more widespread popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries, thanks in part to various cultural references and events that reinforced the idea of the day‘s unluckiness. For example, the 1907 novel "Friday, the Thirteenth" by Thomas W. Lawson, which told the story of a stockbroker who chose the day to deliberately crash the stock market, helped to further popularize the superstition.
In more recent times, the highly successful "Friday the 13th" horror movie franchise, which began in 1980, has kept the superstition in the public consciousness. While these films are not based on the superstition itself, they have undoubtedly contributed to the enduring association between Friday the 13th and misfortune.
The Prevalence of the Superstition
Despite the lack of scientific evidence to support the idea that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day, the superstition remains widespread. A 2019 survey conducted by the data analytics firm YouGov found that 18% of Americans believe that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day, while another 12% say they are unsure.
The economic impact of the Friday the 13th superstition is difficult to quantify, but some estimates suggest that it may result in significant losses for businesses. A 2008 study by the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute estimated that between $800 million and $900 million is lost in business on Friday the 13th due to reduced consumer spending and travel.
The Psychology of Superstition
So why does the Friday the 13th superstition continue to endure, despite the lack of evidence to support it? The answer lies, in part, in the psychology of superstitious beliefs. As the psychologist Stuart Vyse explains in his book "Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition," "Superstitions are an attempt to control the uncontrollable, to make sense of the senseless, and to find order in the chaos of life."
Superstitions like Friday the 13th can provide a sense of control in an uncertain world. By believing that certain days or numbers are unlucky, people may feel that they can take steps to avoid misfortune. Additionally, confirmation bias can lead people to remember and focus on instances when bad things happened on Friday the 13th, while ignoring the countless times when nothing out of the ordinary occurred.
The Evolution of the Superstition
As a historian, I‘m fascinated by the ways in which the Friday the 13th superstition has evolved over time, shaped by a complex interplay of cultural, religious, and historical factors. From its roots in ancient beliefs about the unluckiness of the number 13 and the day Friday, to its reinforcement through cultural references and events, the superstition has proven remarkably resilient.
Today, the Friday the 13th superstition remains a part of our shared cultural narrative, a reminder of the enduring power of folklore and the human desire to find meaning in the world around us. As the historian Marc Bloch once wrote, "Superstition is the poetry of life. It is the instinctive way in which the imagination seeks to impose order on the chaos of experience."
Conclusion
The real story behind the Friday the 13th superstition is a fascinating one, revealing the complex ways in which cultural beliefs and historical events can shape our understanding of the world. While there may be no factual basis for the idea that the day brings bad luck, the superstition continues to capture our imaginations and influence our behavior.
As a historian, I believe that studying superstitions like Friday the 13th can offer valuable insights into the human experience, revealing the ways in which we seek to make sense of the unknown and find meaning in the chaos of life. By understanding the origins and evolution of these beliefs, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the richness and diversity of human culture, and the enduring power of storytelling to shape our shared reality.
