Why are there so many superstitions around Friday the 13th? This is the question that I will attempt to answer in this article.
To begin with, numerologists considered the number 13 to be irregular. Friday was named for the Norse fertility goddess, Frigga, who was later branded as a witch by the Christians.
According to legend, Frigga would get together on Fridays with 11 other witches plus the devil. That makes the total number of people in the group 13. The satanic coven would plot evil twists for the week.
Another legend involves the Knights Templar who protected Christian pilgrims through the crusades but were rounded up and falsely accused of heresy on Friday the 13th in 1307. Dozens of Templars burned at the stake in Paris.
According to the following YouTube video, Urban legend experts at Snopes.com think the 13th is perceived as unlucky for the following reasons:
Our ancestors feared the number 13 because they didn’t have enough fingers and feet to count that high.
Friday is seen as unlucky because it is at the end of the week.
According to a 1993 study from the British Medical Journal, the day could be bad for your health because hospital visits for accidents go up to 52% on Friday the 13th.
Thirteenth floor is a designation of a level of a multi-level building that is often omitted in countries where the number 13 is considered unlucky. Many buildings in NYC lack a 13th floor.