Friday 13th – Good or Bad Luck?
An estimated 17 to 21 million people in the USA are affected by a fear of Friday 13th. Some people are so paralyzed by dread that they avoid their normal routines in doing business, taking flights or even getting out of bed.
In numerology twelve is considered the number of completeness, as reflected in the twelve months of the year, twelve signs of the zodiac, twelve hours of the clock, twelve tribes of Israel, twelve Apostles of Jesus, twelve gods of Olympus, etc., whereas the number thirteen was considered irregular, transgressing this completeness.
The earliest known written reference to Friday 13th being bad luck occurs in 1869, however many superstitions are passed on by word of mouth, and there are theories that trace the origin back 1,000 years.
One theory combines Paganism, Christianity, and the Battle of Hastings.
In medieval times the number 13 was considered a lucky number (such as 13 
lunar cycles each year). But Christians attempted to degrade all things Pagan, and they promoted 13 as an unlucky number (13 at the last supper). With Friday being the day of Jesus’s crucifixion, this was also considered a bad day of the week.
On Friday the 13th of October 1066, the decision was made by King Harold II to go to battle on Saturday, rather than allow his troops a day of rest (despite his army having made a long and arduous march from a battle near York just 3 weeks earlier).
This decision in going to battle before the English troops were rested (the English lost and King Harold was killed) further established Friday the 13th as an unlucky day.
Friday the 13th may be unlucky for some, but it’s made a fortune for the owners of the ‘Friday the 13th’ film franchise. 
Marathon Runner, Drinker and Artist, Blogging for Pleasure and Profit.
Hi John, I enjoyed this very much. I had no idea as to the origins of the fearfully numbered day. I’ve also heard that there are quite a few buildings in the U.S. that have no thirteenth floor (none so named, that is). That sure serves to keep the superstition alive and oh yes, Freddie Kruger knows an opportunity when he sees one. lol Take care, Steve D.
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John McNally
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August 16th, 2010 at 8:37 am
Glad you liked this Steve.
I checked the Empire States Building and they DO have a 13th floor, however many other skyscrapers miss it out. I think it probably depends upon how superstitious the developers are. Some streets in the UK miss out house number 13, and as you said, this sort of thing keeps the superstition alive.
John
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This is actually a bit funny: I was searching Google for “chicken soup” and I clicked a link and suddenly came upon your blog, hehe… Quick review: 4/5, because you seem to have well-written articles! So I guess I am going to eat chicken soup now…
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John McNally
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August 31st, 2010 at 11:08 pm
Thanks for 4 out of 5 Aka, I’m very happy with that.
Were you looking for ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’? – in which case Google wasn’t too far wrong sending you here.
On the other hand if you wanted a recipe for chicken soup, you are definitely in the wrong place. 
John
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I must laugh with Aka then. Anyway, I don’t wanna think of my birth date to be a bad luck coz 13 has been my favorite number ever. Nevertheless, I can’t help myself from believing about this date as a bad luck. I worked in the restaurant in dubai and really we don’t have a table or cabin number 13. And here in Philippines, there’s a certain hotel that has no floor number 13.
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John McNally
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August 31st, 2010 at 11:12 pm
It’s interesting that the No.13 phobioa is worldwide Charlotte. In your case however 13 is definitely lucky, how could it be otherwise if it’s your birthday?
Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment.
John
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charlotte from free numerology
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September 8th, 2010 at 11:49 am
John,
Of course it is! 13 for me is my lucky number..and nothing could
And it should be the lucky number of my parents too, for on that day a beautiful baby was given to them..and its me..just kidding.
change my mind about that
Charlotte
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According to folklorists, there is no written evidence for a “Friday the 13th” superstition before the 19th century.The earliest known documented reference in English occurs in an 1869 biography of Gioachino Rossini:
[Rossini] was surrounded to the last by admiring and affectionate friends; and if it be true that, like so many other Italians, he regarded Friday as an unlucky day, and thirteen as an unlucky number, it is remarkable that on Friday, the 13th of November, he died.
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John McNally
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September 9th, 2010 at 6:42 am
Thanks Raj, I came across the Rossini quote while researching this post.
Using hindsight it’s possible to make connections out of anything, that’s how conspiracy theories work. I only included the 1066 Battle of Hastings story because It’s an important part of English history.
However I don’t think it proves anything about Friday 13th. Surely the unlucky day was Saturday the 14th when the battle was lost?
I might post some more stuff on superstitions Raj, they’re quite interesting.
John
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I love numerology. It seems so exciting to have an idea about a person’s life by just a person’s names & birth dates. I am grateful to have read the articles, I have enjoyed a lot. Hope to see more of your posts.
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John McNally
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September 9th, 2010 at 7:52 am
You can have good fun with numbers Charlotte. 42 is my favourite because it’s the “answer to life, the universe and everything.” (Douglas Adams – Hitch Hikers Guide to the Universe).
Thanks for visiting Charlotte, I hope you call again.
John
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Hi John,
It’s me again..I really love to visit your site. It is such a pleasure reading all of your posts..:)
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John McNally
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October 28th, 2010 at 8:02 am
Hello Charlotte, Welcome back.
I’ve got quite a few posts with numbers in the titles; ‘Top 25 Science Fiction & Fantasy Films’, ‘Top 20 Film Quotes’ etcetera. However in honour of your visit, I shall write somthing else purely on numbers. (I don’t know what yet).
Keep watching this space……….
John
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