It is known to all that Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day in many Western cultures. It occurs when the 13th day of the month in the Gregorian calendar falls on a Friday, which happens at least once every year. However, the occurrence can occur up to three times in the same year. The year 2022 had just one Friday the 13th, and the same will be in 2025. The years 2023 and 2024 have two Fridays the 13th. A month has a Friday the 13th if and only if it begins on a Sunday. This combination of day and date is associated with various superstitions and myths across cultures around the world. Like any other fear, the fear of the number 13 has also been acknowledged as ‘triskaidekaphobia.’ Experts say that the phobia of the number 13 affects millions of people. As Friday the 13th nears on October 13, 2023, here’s all you need to know about Friday the 13th date in 2023, the legends associated with it, and the significance of the day. Friday the 13th: Spooky Historical Incidents That Took Place on This Date Proving It To Be an Unlucky Day.

Friday the 13th in 2023

Friday the 13th falls on Friday, October 13.

Friday the 13th Legends

Very little is known about the origins of the day. Some historians believe that the superstitions surrounding it arose in the late 19th century. As per records, some believed that the unlucky nature of the number ‘13’ is a Norse myth about 12 Gods having dinner together in Valhalla. The trickster God Loki, who was not invited and arrived as the 13th guest, arranged for Hoor to shoot Balder with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. Balder died, and the whole Earth got dark, terming the day as an unlucky day. Friday the 13th Funny Memes: These Hilarious Jokes And Puns on The 'Unlucky Day' Will Ease Your Superstitious Anxiety.

Another record reveals that the first documented mention of the day, Friday the 13th, can be found in a biography of Italian composer Gioachino Rossini, who died on Friday the 13th. In France, Friday 13th might have been associated with misfortune as early as the first half of the 19th century. Some other beliefs state that the day has been associated with misfortune since 1307 when, on a Friday the 13th, the French king gave the orders to arrest hundreds of Knights Templar in France.

Others believe the myth has Biblical origins, as Jesus was crucified on a Friday. The superstitious beliefs originated from Christ's Last Supper before his crucifixion, which was attended by '13' people. This can be seen in Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of the Last Supper, which shows Christ and his 12 disciples in the Upper Room the night before His death on Good Friday. It was Jesus' disciple, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed the Messiah for thirty silver coins, also thought to have been the 13th guest to sit at the table.

Friday the 13th Significance

Despite being popularly known as an unlucky day, many people do not believe in the superstitions surrounding Friday the 13th. The number 13 has been historically associated with bad luck in many cultures, while, in some cultures, it is considered a lucky day, and some even consider it a day of good luck. Some people choose to avoid scheduling important events, such as weddings or business meetings, on Friday the 13th while some people might choose to avoid long-distance travel on Friday the 13th due to superstitions.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 13, 2023 12:25 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).