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Ideas about the most unlucky day of the year, which must certainly be Friday the 13th, exist in many countries and cultures, including Our Country. There are two such Fridays in 2023. A sure sign that there will definitely be an unlucky day in the month is if the 1st falls on a Sunday. We tell you where superstition came from and what to do to avoid problems on this day.
When is Friday the 13th in 2023
Friday the 13th, or “Trouble Day” as it is also known, falls in January and October in 2023. Only two days of misfortune in a year – this, perhaps, can be dealt with.
History of Friday the 13th
Fears before Fridays, which fall on the 13th of the month, arose recently – at the turn of the XNUMXth-XNUMXth centuries. Like any folk signs and superstitions, the fear of this day has several versions of its origin.
In Western culture until the 13th century, prejudice regarding Fridays and the number 13 existed separately. The fears did not arise out of nowhere. According to the Bible, Jesus was crucified on Friday, which is why in many Christian cultures this day is considered unlucky. And at the Last Supper – the last supper that Christ ate with the disciples, there were 13 apostles – the 13th was the traitor Judas. It is with this fact that the widespread phobia of the number “13” is connected, which has reached such proportions that large hotels “skip” the 13th floor, because no one wants to live on it, and airlines do not mark the 12th row in the cabin – after the 14th it immediately goes XNUMXth.
Two superstitions were destined to merge into one – the first written mention of the “day of trouble” dates back to 1869 and concerns the death of the Italian composer Gioachino Rossini. His biographer mentions that Rossini’s death occurred on a “double bad day”.
Popular culture served to spread the new superstition. In 1907, American writer and businessman Thomas Lawson published a novel called Friday the Thirteenth. At one time, the book was very popular, the newspapers, and then the townsfolk, gladly picked up the loud headline. Another thing is curious: in the same year, 1907, the only seven-masted ship in the world, named just in honor of Thomas Lawson, set off on its maiden voyage. But the sailing ship never reached its destination, sinking off the coast of England on December 13th – it was Friday.
There is another common, albeit false, version of the origin of a phobia. Its adherents explain the fear of the “day of trouble” by the events of 1307 – it is believed that on Friday, October 13, all members of the Knights Templar were arrested, including the supreme leadership, after which they were executed. This version is especially popular among adherents of alternative history and esotericism, who tend to endow the Templars with mystical and occult qualities. However, the story is far from the truth – it originated in the XNUMXth century and is not taken seriously by scientists, although it has found its fans. The spread of this legend was facilitated by the book “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown – in which the author details the fall of the Knights Templar.
Today, the fear of Friday the 13th finds its way into movies and books. One of the most famous horror film series of the 1980s is called “Friday the 13th” – its popularity has once again cemented this superstition in the mass consciousness.
Meanwhile, the Friday the 13th phobia has very real economic implications. The main advice followed by those who believe in bad omens – do not travel, do not make deals and do not make large purchases – then famously pass by. Because of this, airlines, banks, retail chains, large firms and, in general, the economies of developed countries suffer multimillion-dollar losses every year on this day. On the other hand, the results of some studies also speak about the pluses of fear of an unlucky day – according to statistics, on Fridays the 13th, the number of accidents on the roads decreases. This is because people suffering from this phobia try to be as careful as possible when driving, or even stay at home.
How to avoid problems on Friday the 13th
This superstition has its own name – paraskavedekatriaphobia. And if trying to pronounce it has not yet relieved you of the fear of this day, here are some tips to avoid problems on Friday the 13th:
- Do not borrow or lend money – it is believed that the negative is transmitted through money.
- Do not go to a new job that day – otherwise you will not stay long.
- Do not sign contracts and agreements, even if they promise great benefits – the consequences will be unpleasant.
- Do not travel by plane, train or car.
- Do not talk about your dreams – consciousness is especially vulnerable on this day.
- Do not quarrel and do not enter into conflicts – they are very likely to develop into a major scandal.
- Do not get married – otherwise it will be short-lived.
- Do not plant trees – they will not bear fruit anyway.
- Do not start new business – their success is doubtful.
- Do not panic and do not let superstitions spoil your mood.
Although several high-profile accidents occurred on Friday the 13th, no correlation between the number of accidents and this date was found. Therefore, it is important to remember that the fear of a “day of trouble” is just a superstition that has no rational basis, and only you determine how much it can affect your life.
Friday the 13th in other countries
Different countries have their own equivalents of the familiar Friday the 13th and their own ways to avoid trouble on this day.
- The Spaniards consider Thursdays that fell on the 13th to be unlucky, but similar Fridays for them are an ordinary day.
- Greeks also experience phobias just before Thursdays – according to ancient Greek mythology, this day is under the influence of Ares, the god of war, and therefore is considered not the most prosperous. After the fall of Constantinople – it happened on Thursday, April 13 – the status of the most unlucky day was fixed just for Thursdays that fall on the 13th.
- In Italy, they also do not like the end of the working week, but only when it coincides with the 17th. The fact is that the Roman spelling of the number “17” – XVII – can be read as “vixi”, which means “I lived” (in the past tense). Superstitious Italians ascribe to this word the meaning of death in the present, and therefore Friday the 17th for them is the most unlucky day of the year.
- In Finland, on the “day of trouble”, which, like in most countries, falls on the 13th, is National Accident Day. The country’s authorities are holding public events designed to inform residents about the importance of safe behavior and careful driving, but not only on Fridays, but every day.