Interesting facts about Friday the 13th
- The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskavedekatriaphobia, which is derived from the Greek words for Friday (paraskevi), 13 (dekatria), and fear (phobos).
- The superstition that it is an unlucky day is thought to have originated in the Middle Ages, when 13 people were present at the Last Supper, including Jesus and his 12 apostles. Jesus was crucified the next day, on a Friday.
- Another possible origin of the superstition is the Norse myth of Loki, the trickster god. Loki was the 13th guest to arrive at a feast of the gods, and his presence led to the death of Balder, the god of light and joy.
- Friday the 13th occurs at least once every year in the Gregorian calendar, but there can be up to three Fridays the 13th in a single year.
- The first Friday the 13th in the 21st century occurred on January 13, 2001. The last Friday in the 21st century will occur on December 13, 2029.
- The horror film franchise Friday the 13th, which began in 1980, has helped to popularize the superstition that this day is an unlucky day.
- Despite the superstition, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that this day is any more or less dangerous than any other day of the year.
Additional facts of Friday 13th:
- The fear of this day is so widespread that it has an economic impact. Some businesses, such as airlines and hotels, report a decrease in business on Friday the 13th.
- In some countries, such as Spain and Greece, Tuesday the 13th is considered to be an unlucky day instead of Friday.
- Some people believe that this is a good day to start new projects or take risks. They argue that since many people are afraid of this day, there is less competition.
- There have been a number of notable events that have occurred on Friday the 13th, including the assassination of Julius Caesar, the sinking of the Titanic, and the bombing of Buckingham Palace. However, there is no evidence to suggest that these events were caused by the date itself.
Overall, Friday the 13th is a day with a lot of superstition and folklore surrounding it. Whether or not you believe that it is an unlucky day, it is certainly a day that is on many people’s minds.
