Friday the 13th: A brief history
By DON WILBURN
donaldfwilburn@gmail.com
This week marks the last Friday the 13th of 2024, often regarded as one of the unluckiest days on the calendar. This year has featured the date twice, with the previous occurrence in September. Friday the 13th has long been associated with superstition and bad luck, though its origins remain unclear, rooted in centuries of folklore and tradition.
On this day, many people approach life with caution, avoiding major decisions, travel, surgeries, or significant financial commitments. Airlines have even reported a decline in bookings on Friday the 13th, while some buildings skip numbering a 13th floor altogether. In parts of Europe during the 17th century, the number 13 was considered unlucky, with a particular fear of having 13 people around a table, which was thought to invite misfortune. Even the former dog track at Southland Casino in West Memphis never had a 13th kennel.
One widely cited origin story ties the superstition to the Last Supper, where 13 guests were present – Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles – followed by the crucixion on Good Friday. Matthias was later chosen as the 13th apostle after Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus and subsequently hung himself.
In Western culture, the number 12 is often associated with completeness – 12 months in a year, 12 zodiac signs, and Jesus’ 12 apostles. Eggs and other foods are typically bought by the “dozen”. Note there is no English word for a group of 11 or 13. The number 13, by contrast, has long been viewed as an outlier, symbolizing disorder and bad luck.
Historical events have also been tied to the date’s reputation, including the legend of the Knights Templar. On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered the arrest and execution of over 100 members of the order, solidifying the day’s ominous association.
The fear of the number 13 even has a name: triskaidekaphobia.
Interestingly, Friday the 13th isn’t considered unlucky everywhere. In Spain, Tuesday the 13th is regarded as the day to fear due to its association with Mars, the Roman god of war. In Italy, the number 17 carries the superstition, as the Roman numeral XVII can be rearranged to spell “VIXI,” meaning “my life is over” in Latin.
For horror fans, Friday the 13th owes its notoriety to the iconic 1980s slasher franchise. The lm’s writer and director, Sean Cunningham, chose the title simply because it sounded terrifying and marketable. In fact, the idea was so compelling that Cunningham sold the rights to the film based on the title alone before a script was even written. A bold ad in Variety magazine in 1979, touting it as “the most terrifying movie ever made,” quickly attracted eager investors, and the rest is history.
A face only a mother could love: Actress Betsy Palmer, the killer in the original film, hugs her “dear dear boy” Jason on his birthday, Friday the 13th.
Paramount Pictures
