This morning I spilled my coffee, knocked over a picture frame, (no glass broke), and burnt my finger on the stove while cooking breakfast. Many would attribute these incidents as Friday the 13th bad luck. I attribute it to not being fully awake and stumbling through my morning as I drink my coffee to wake up. Do I believe that the rest of my day is going to be like this because of what day it is?

For as long as anyone can remember; though no one is quite sure how it started, Friday the 13th has been known as a day of bad luck. The fear of Friday the 13th, also know to psychcologists as Paraskevidekatriaphobia, is based on the superstitions of Bad Friday and the number 13. This irrational fear leaves people afraid to leave their homes, cross the path of a black cat, and for some to remove all the mirrors from their home. The question remains: Is it really unlucky or is it unlucky to those who give the power over their lives? Friday the 13th is the widest spread superstition known today.

Myths (Superstitions) concerning Friday the 13th

1) It is thought that if you have a dinner party and  13 people to sit down to dinner, one of those people will die within the year. This belief may stem from the Last Supper. Thirteen peple sat down to eat at the last supper and within that year Judas (Who was the 13th guest to arrive) betrayed Jesus leading to Jesus’ death, otherwise known as the crucifixition which just happened to be on a Friday. Some say this is proof that the myth is more than just a myth and the events prove that it is true. Others say that its just a coicidence that people looking for ways to prove their theories, and perhaps not look crazy, will use anything they can. What can not be proven is how many people throughout time had thirteen people sit down to dinner and had one die within that year.

    Norse culture also has a tale that leaves people with this fear. Balder, a norse mythological hero was killed at a banquet by Loki, who was the thirteenth guest to arrive.

2) If you have thirteen letters in your name, you will have the devils luck. Such people throughout time that have had thirteen letters in their name are Charles Manson, Jack the Ripper,  and Jeffery Dahmer. All apprently evil people but don’t these people have middles names? Or does the middle name not count? Then there is Jack the Ripper, we know that is the name given to him by police and the media. His parents did not give this name to him.

3) Breaking a mirror will bring you seven years of badluck. I have broken many a mirror, and some even on Friday the 13th. My cousin told me I would have seven years of bad luck, which I did not. Not even one day that I can recall. Bad things, unlucky things happen but I do not believe that its the cause of a mirror broken on a certain day of the year.

4) There are twelve witches in a coven and the devil bringing the number to thirteen. Witches are known for their curses, spells and potions, usually with harmful or deadly results to the recipients. Logic tells us, however, that chanting a few words and brewing up herbs and possibly human hearts, will not cause someone harm its just silly.

The list goes on. There are many theories and ideas out there as to how and why Friday the 13th became the day of bad luck. No one really knows how it started and there is certainly no logical or scientific basis in any of the theories, ideas and superstitions behind Friday the 13th. We are taught from an early age that its just an unlucky day.  There is usually no logic based in fears people have, they only have basis in one’s life because people actually give them basis.