Friday the 13th has long been considered an unlucky day in Western superstition. The origins of this belief are somewhat murky, but it seems to be rooted in a confluence of ancient pagan and Christian beliefs. Here’s a closer look at some of the possible origins and meanings behind the superstitions surrounding this date:
Links to Norse Mythology
In Norse mythology, Friday is named after Frigga, the goddess of love and fertility. Frigga was associated with superstitions surrounding love and marriage. According to some sources, Christians in the Middle Ages may have viewed Frigga as being connected to witchcraft and pagan rituals. This may have contributed to Fridays coming to be seen as unstable and sinister days associated with bad luck.
The number 13 was also seen as unlucky by Norse and other ancient cultures. Twelve was considered a complete number: There were 12 months in the year, 12 zodiac signs, 12 Norse gods, etc. The number 13 was thus seen as irregular, transgressing the completeness of 12. This may have fed into 13 being viewed as an omen of misfortune by pagan cultures.
Links to Christian Tradition
In Christianity, Friday has long been associated with sorrow and misfortune. According to Christian scriptures, Jesus Christ was crucified on a Friday (Mark 15:42-47). This pivotal event helped establish Friday as a solemn day of penance and grief in Christian tradition.
While less clear, the number 13 also has some foreboding associations in Christianity. There were 13 people present at Jesus’ last supper, after which Judas betrayed him. This may have helped further stigmatize the number 13 as being connected to betrayal, death, and bad omens.
The Last Supper on Friday
As noted above, Christian scripture records Jesus Christ sharing the Last Supper with his 12 disciples on a Thursday evening (Mark 14:17-26), before being betrayed and crucified the next day, which was a Friday. The presence of 13 people at the Last Supper – Jesus and his 12 disciples – may have further contributed to the negative associations between Friday and the number 13, at least in Christian cultural traditions.
And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” (Mark 14:17-18 ESV)
While scripture does not specifically condemn the gathering of 13 for a meal, Christ’s betrayal after the Last Supper attended by 13 people did further some superstitious beliefs about 13 being an unlucky number.
Friday the 13th as a “Double Whammy” of Unluckiness
Given the negative supernatural connotations both Friday and the number 13 held in various cultures and traditions, a day bringing the two together came to be seen as a particularly inauspicious date by medieval and ancient superstitions. Friday the 13th was viewed as a “double whammy” of bad luck, combining the sinister nature of Fridays with the sense of foreboding attached to the number 13.
This perception persisted into modern times. Many continue to view Friday the 13th as the unluckiest date on the calendar. Common superstitions hold that various misfortunes are more likely to befall a person on these days, including accidents, illnesses, bad business deals, losing money, and relationship troubles.
The Stigma in the Church
As Christianity spread, church leaders sought to condemn certain pagan superstitions. However, some beliefs persisted and were tolerated. Friday the 13th was one such tradition that was not directly addressed by church authorities in the Middle Ages.
While the church did not officially endorse Friday the 13th as a day of bad luck, its pagan origins and connections to witchcraft likely prevented the date from being seen as particularly favorable or sacred in medieval Christian society.
When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. (Deuteronomy 18:9 ESV)
This scripture hints at pagan practices being viewed as taboo. While Friday the 13th was not specifically mentioned, its connections to non-Christian beliefs may have hindered it from shedding its stigma in Christian societies throughout the Middle Ages.
The Templar Arrests on Friday the 13th
One key event that helped further the superstitions surrounding this date was the arrest of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307. The Knights Templar were a powerful Catholic military order known for their banking and financial capabilities.
The Templar order was disbanded amid accusations of heresy and strange occult rituals. The arrests and demise of this wealthy, influential order on a Friday the 13th added to the sinister lore surrounding the date.
The Savior’s Sacrifice
Despite the negative superstitions surrounding Friday the 13th, Christians believe Christ’s willing sacrifice on Good Friday has filled this date with hope:
And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.” (Mark 16:6 ESV)
So while Friday the 13th is viewed in society as dark and unlucky, the gospel of Christ has transformed the meaning of this date for believers. Christians see all Fridays, even this supposedly ominous date, as a remembrance of God’s mercy and salvation.
A Reminder Not to Fear
Friday the 13th serves as an important reminder for Christians not to buy into superstitions or be driven by fear of unlucky days:
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7 ESV)
Rather than anxiety over bad omens, scripture calls believer to draw comfort and strength from their faith:
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (1 John 4:18 ESV)
The gospel message gives Christians freedom from tremors of foreboding and angst over dates like Friday the 13th.
A Call to Faithfulness
For believers, Friday the 13th is not a reason for dread, but rather a reminder to walk faithfully with God day-by-day:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV)
Rather than focusing on luck – good or bad – Christians are called to start each day in gratitude and praise of God’s abundant grace and faithfulness.
The Light Overcoming Darkness
In a spiritual sense, the superstitions around Friday the 13th can serve as a metaphor. The perceived darkness and ill-fortune of the date represent the sin and despair of a fallen world.
But Christians know Christ’s redeeming light shines brightly, no matter how dark a particular day may seem:
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5 ESV)
Therefore, this date need not be feared or avoided. It is simply another opportunity to express faith in God’s providence.
A History of Defiance
Despite the stigma around Friday the 13th, there is also a long history of deliberately defying the superstitions associated with the date:
- In 1881, a New Yorker named Captain William Fowler set out to prove 13 was not unlucky by hosting a series of dinner parties with 13 guests on each Friday the 13th.
- The Thirteen Club, an exclusive club formed by Fowler to thumb its nose at Friday the 13th fears, soon boasted membership of leading New York figures in business, politics and culture.
- In the early 20th century, airplane manufacturer Curtis set out to prove Friday 13th was not unlucky by delivering a plane on the date and even offering free flights.
- In modern times, some tattoo parlors offer Friday the 13th specials to mark the date.
These examples show that even before Christ, many did not take stock in the notion of Friday the 13th being doomed.
Finding Meaning Beyond Superstition
For Christians, dates on the calendar lose meaning in light of God’s timeless grace. Focusing on propitious days is not a central part of sincere faith:
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:34 ESV)
Rather than good luck charms or avoidance of unlucky days, believers are called to find meaning through seeking God:
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33 ESV)
In this light, Friday the 13th can serve as reminder to focus on faith rather than superstition.
A Sign of God’s Sovereignty
Friday the 13th can actually bolster faith when viewed as an expression of God’s supremacy over human conceptions of fortune and fate.
The perceived unluckiness of the date stems from human folklore and pagan traditions. But God’s sovereign plan transcends these human ideas:
Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done. (Isaiah 46:9-10 ESV)
Any notion that a day or date controls human destiny is refuted by God’s eternal authority. Christians take comfort in His grace and purposes rather than any date on the calendar.
An Opportunity to Show Courage
From a Christian perspective, Friday the 13th can be transformed from a supposedly unpropitious date into an opportunity:
- A chance to demonstrate courage rather than succumb to fear of superstition.
- An opening to express faith in God’s abiding presence and care over temporal dates.
- An occasion to model level-headed trust in Christ rather than anxiety over bad omens.
By exhibiting faith on such a notorious date, believers can stand as a testament to God’s redeeming power over human dread and apprehension.
The Keys to Canceling “Bad Luck”
For Christians, here are some keys to overcoming any perceived misfortune or “bad luck” associated with Friday the 13th:
- Rest in God’s sovereignty, which supersedes any human date or tradition.
- Have faith in Christ’s finished redemptive work, which frees believers from fear.
- Focus on living each day according to God’s will rather than superstitions.
- Pray for courage and confidence to walk in the light of God’s truths.
- Set an uplifting example of faith in action for any who harbor superstitions.
These biblical principles allow Christians to view Friday the 13th as any other day – with hope, purpose and gratitude in Christ.
Finding Peace Through Christ
Friday the 13th conjures negative assumptions. Yet Christians have cause for joy and peace every day through their Savior:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27 ESV)
This abiding peace in Christ protects believers from turmoil over any date. His grace and sovereignty cast out fear of Friday the 13th.
A Celebration of God’s Constant Care
Friday the 13th can be an occasion for praising God’s faithfulness rather than harboring consternation. Throughout scripture, God commands His faithful not to be anxious but to give thanks in all circumstances:
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV)
Therefore, Friday the 13th can be transformed into an opportunity to celebrate God’s steadfast presence and care over His people’s lives.
The Provider Greater Than Superstition
Common superstitions hold that Friday the 13th will bring bad luck in one’s livelihood and provision. But scripture offers reassurance of God’s abundance:
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 ESV)
Rather than anxiety over finances on this date, Christians can have confidence in God’s pledge to supply their needs. His provision is greater than any superstition.
A Chance to Proclaim Christ’s Redemption
Friday the 13th is shrouded in grim superstitions. But it represents an opportunity for Christians to proclaim the hope and light of Christ:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9 ESV)
Believers can reflect God’s amazing grace by showing faith in the face of deep-rooted superstitions about this date.
The Freedom Found in Christ
Friday the 13th conjures a sense of ominous misfortune. But scripture promises believers are not bound by fears or mystical beliefs:
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1 ESV)
Christians need not submit to perceived ill luck on a day like Friday the 13th. They are free to walk in faith, not fear.
A Prayer for Boldness
Friday the 13th can be an occasion for Christians to pray for boldness to walk by faith, not by superstitious sight:
Praying also for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:19-20 KJV)
With courage from above, believers can stand firmly on the truth of the gospel no matter the date on the calendar.