December 13, 2016

Many people are familiar with the superstitions surrounding Friday the 13^th, a day feared by many who believe in the supernatural, the unexplained, or the just plain weird. But did you know that Tuesday the 13^th—today!—is also a potentially troubling day? In many Latin American countries (and in Spain and Greece), today—Tuesday the 13th, or martes 13 (or trece) in Spanish—is un día de la mala suerte, or a bad luck day.

Some superstitious people think that cuddly black cats should be avoided on martes 13—Tuesday the 13th. Credit: © Shutterstock Credit: © Shutterstock

On martes 13, people might want to avoid black cats, walking beneath ladders, breaking mirrors, or other supposed omens of bad luck. In fact, some superstitious Spanish-speaking people may not leave home at all on martes 13. A common saying goes: martes 13, ni te cases, ni te embarques—Tuesday the 13^th, neither marry, nor embark (leave on a trip). In Chile, a third warning is often added to this expression: ni tu puerco mates—don’t kill your pig (save it for a better day). The number 13 has long been an “unlucky” number, but you may wonder why some cultures pair 13 with Tuesday instead of Friday.

Well, one possibility is that martes is named for the fearsome ancient Roman god of war, Mars (Marte in Spanish)—not a character to be taken lightly. And, of course, war is associated with such bad things as death and destruction. Also, one of the most significant events in world history, the Fall of Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey), occurred on a Tuesday in 1453. If you were a citizen of the East Roman (or Byzantine) Empire at the time, this was truly a bad luck day. Furthermore, Biblical tradition has it that the confusion of different languages at the Tower of Babel began on a Tuesday—or was it martes, martedi, mardi, Dienstag, or Вторник???

In some East Asian cultures, the number 4 is considered bad luck, largely because of the similarity of the words four and death in Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and several Chinese dialects. It is common for buildings to be without a fourth floor, or for the number 4 to be excluded from the names of airplanes, cars, or ships. It is extremely uncommon to receive a gift of four of anything, and the number 4 is often missing in hospitals, hotels, and license plates.

November 13, 2015

For the third time in the year 2015, a Friday will fall on the 13th day of the month, and you will not be alone if you feel just a little bit nervous about this unluckiest of days. Friggatriskaidekaphobia (fear of Friday the 13th) is a common phobia shared by millions of people worldwide. The word comes from Frigg, the name of the Norse goddess for whom Friday is named, and triskaidekaphobia, or fear of the number thirteen. Friday the 13th  always occurs at least once a year and no more than three times in any one year.

Friday and the number 13 are both associated with bad luck in Western cultures. Credit: © Everett Collection/Shutterstock

Scholars of folklore are uncertain about the exact origins of the superstitions surrounding Friday the 13th. Historical documents that refer to the unlucky day are all but unknown before the late 1800′s, but scholars know that superstitions surrounding Friday and the number 13 stretch back to ancient times. For example, one of the earliest written collections of laws, the Code of Hammurabi, composed between 1792 and 1750 B.C., completely omits the number 13. Some people think 13 owes its bad reputation to Loki, the ancient Norse god of evil, who arrived uninvited to disrupt a feast held by 12 Norse gods at Valhalla. The number 13 continues to have an unlucky association today. Thirteen is so disliked that many cities skip over 13th Street, hotels often avoid having a 13th  floor, and many airports do not have a gate 13.

Friday is also often associated with bad luck. Many people will not travel or begin a trip on a Friday. One explanation for the belief that Friday the 13th is especially unlucky stems from Christian tradition. Jesus Christ was crucified on a Friday following the Last Supper, attended by 13 men.

Although scientists normally dismiss superstition, some take worries over Friday the 13th seriously. Psychologists have studied how concern over the unlucky date may affect people’s health and safety. Remarkably, some research studies find that accidents are actually less common on Friday the 13th compared to other dates. Researchers suggest that people are more likely to stay at home or people are more cautious because of fears surrounding the date.

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