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What You Need to Know About Friday the 13th Before Panicking

Boon Hun

2023-01-12 , 9:54 am

Last Updated on 2023-10-12 , 10:35 am

Friday the 13th.

Even just saying it within your own mind just seems spooky, doesn’t it?

But why is this day considered an unlucky day, and how did it come about?

Don’t worry if you don’t know because Goody Feed is here to cover your back.

Here’s What You Need to Know About This “Unlucky” Day

Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day, no matter which month of the year it falls on.

What you didn’t know is that it happens at least once a year but on certain years, it could occur as many as three times, such as in 2015.

Typically, Friday the 13th will happen in any month which starts on a Sunday.

No One Knew How It Started

While it’s infamous for its fear-inducing effects, people are not able to remember just what started everything off.

There are several different “beginnings” to the magic of Friday the 13th.

Some believed it started in the late 19th century when Italian composer Gioachino Rossini died on a Friday, the 13th.

Then, a book by American Businessman Thomas Lawson brought the notorious day further in 1907.

There’s also a dark ages’ version where it was said that on a Friday, the 13th, the King of France relayed an order to arrest hundreds of knights templar back in 1307.

If that isn’t enough, there’s also a religious version where Jesus was crucified on a Friday and there were 13 guests at his Last Supper.

Real Fear

Believe it or not, fear of Friday the 13th is a legitimate fear with a scientific name.

Paraskevidekatriaphobia is derived from Greek, with Paraskevi translating into Friday and dekatria translating into 13; the entire sentence can be translated into “the fear of Friday, the 13th”.

This phobia is given to anyone who has an irrational fear of the day.

By the way, did you know that Stephen King, the master of horror fiction himself, has paraskevidekatriaphobia?

Which leads to the next question: are there statistics to show that it’s indeed an unlucky day?

Millions Of Dollars Lost On This Day

According to the Time & Date website, Friday, the 13th resulted in a lot of losses for America.

Millions of people suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia and airlines, as well as businesses, suffer from severe losses on the day of Friday, the 13th itself.

But here’s the thing: was the fear causing the losses, or the day itself?

In other words, is it all just a self-fulfilling prophecy?

Different Countries Have Different Versions

While we are familiar with Friday the 13th and the bad luck it’s associated with, do you know that in other countries, there are days that are just as creepy, if not worse?

For example, in Spanish-speaking countries, Tuesday the 13 was thought of as the unluckiest day.

Meanwhile, in Italy, Friday, the 17th is considered a day of bad luck because when you write 17 out in Roman numerals, it can be rearranged to read, I have lived, meaning that you’re going to die soon.

It was so prevalent that the parody film Shriek if you know what I did last Friday the 13th was released as Shriek if you know what I did last Friday the 17th in Italy.

As for Singapore, the Chinese-speaking community would associate the 4th with bad luck, as it sounds like “death” in Mandarin.

Other Interesting Facts About Friday, The 13th

Despite the bad reputation of the day, it was actually reported that in the Netherlands, it’s actually safer to drive on the roads in the Netherlands.

Apparently, a study found that 7,500 accidents were reported on this particular date, compared to the national average of 7,800 reports.

Nevertheless, the number “13” was considered so unlucky hotels skip this level within their buildings and in Paris, you can hire someone to act as the 14th guest.

Also, in 2029, we can all get to witness an asteroid zoom past earth with our naked eye on 13 Apr 2029…you guessed it. A Friday.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, the twin actresses, were also born on a Friday the 13th.