If there is a number condemned to never go unnoticed that is 13, able to condition even the day of the most superstitious people, who especially dodge the ladders, as far as possible, also the black cats and who try to cross the threshold of the house door with the right foot.
But who hasn't ever wondered what is the origin of the fear towards what is considered the day of bad luck? For you and anyone who is curious, we discover where this deeply rooted belief comes from in many countries.
Why is it said that Tuesday or Friday 13 is a day of bad luck?
Although in the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries consider Friday 13 the day of bad luck, both in Spain and in Latin America this consideration is attributed to Tuesday 13.
To start with, it's true that popularly, number 13 has enough bad reputation widely to lead to all kinds of stratagems that manage to boycott the influx of misfortune that accompanies this number all over the world.
So it's common to find elevators in skyscrapers in the United States in which number 13 is the great absent among its buttons or is replaced by the altered version of its digits with number 31 instead. Or even homes located in that plant that are sold for ridiculous prices compared to the rest just for being located on the thirteenth floor of the building.
There are quite a few people who try to change the dates of some trips or important events if a priori these coincided with the famous Tuesday or Friday 13. There's a saying in Spanish that says: "On Tuesday 13 don't get married and don't embark," since the shadow of bad omens plans on what would be the result of that day, reason enough for many when deciding to change their plans on those dates and relocate them to other peaceful ones.
The legends behind 13: The cursed number
It's curious and even disturbing to discover that there are many diverse origins that reaffirm the negative connotation of number 13. It makes us think that instead of a certain fact spread as a superstition towards different cultures (and that each one will adapt it to their own mythology), it was the other way around
That is, that the disparity of origins indicated that there were sufficiently widespread indications throughout the world to conclude that number 13 really had a harmful connotation beyond all natural law and all possible logic.
We find allusions to this maligned number in all latitudes: Thus, the Nordic legends attribute number 13 to the spirit of evil, Loki, for having been guest number 13 in a meeting between the gods.
In the Catholic religion, we discovered that during the last dinner Judas occupied number 13 among the assistants, being him the apostle who betrayed Jesus, and by whom he was sacrificed days later, precisely on Friday, April 13.
On the other hand, and related to more superstitions, we find that during the Middle Ages it was also given a special meaning to number 13, which coincided with the number of members who carried out the covens, as well as the 13 steps that took the condemned to the gallows for witchcraft.
In the same way, as in the tarot deck, card number 13 is the most feared, because it symbolizes death. Coincidence?
Why Tuesday or Friday?
The origins seem to refer to the ancient Roman mythology when the first focus of attention was placed by calling "Tuesday" the day of the week ruled by Mars, the god of war and destruction.
But the fateful Tuesday, May 13 arrived, when, coinciding with a legendary moon eclipse that predicted great misfortunes, the destruction of numerous boats and the death of hundreds of soldiers sent to fight against the Muslims happened, thus assuming the end of an era and the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire in Constantinople.
Since for Christianity this fact was a very strong impact, from that day, Tuesday 13 became a day destined to carry bad luck over the years.
As for Friday the 13th, as we have previously said, it is attributed to "Good Friday", the day Jesus was crucified, the day after The Last Supper.
Bad luck or superstition?
To conclude, although Tuesday 13 is a day full of bad omen attributions, more and more people find it so absurd to give importance to the bad luck fame, that they enjoy the provocation of taking it as if it were the opposite: Choosing it as a wedding date, playing the lottery on that day by betting on number 13 or starting something important on that particular day.
Anyway, whether you fear bad luck or question it, from here we wish you a happy next Tuesday or Friday 13.