Friday the 13th has long been considered an unlucky day in Western superstition, with various tragic, bizarre, and shocking events occurring on this date throughout history. Though there is no scientific evidence of the day being cursed, there are some interesting events and theories surrounding the day; these 18 facts may send chills up your spine.
Biblical Origins
One theory suggests that the superstition stems from the Bible, where 13 individuals were present at the Last Supper, with the 13th guest being Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. Jesus was then crucified on Good Friday, combining the number 13 with Friday.
Buckingham Palace Bombed (1940)
On September 13, 1940, shortly after the start of Germany’s bombing campaign on the towns and cities of Britain, five high-explosive bombs were dropped on Buckingham Palace. The Royal Chapel, inner quadrangle, and Palace gates were hit, and several workmen were injured. Rather than flee the city under attack, King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, remained at Buckingham Palace in solidarity with those living through the Blitz.
Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 Crash (1972)
Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, chartered by a Uruguayan amateur rugby team, crashed in the Andes Mountains in Argentina on October 13, 1972. The wreckage was not located for more than two months; of the 45 people aboard the plane, only 16 survived the ordeal by resorting to cannibalism.
The Arrest of the Knights Templar (1307)
A historical event linked to the superstition is the arrest of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307, by officers of King Philip IV of France. This event is sometimes cited as the origin of the superstition, although it is not definitively proven.
Aeroflot Flight 217 Crash (1972)
On October 13, 1972, Aeroflot Flight 217 was a non-scheduled international passenger flight from Orly Airport in Paris to Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow. The Ilyushin Il-62 airliner operating the flight crashed on approach to Sheremetyevo, resulting in the loss of all 164 passengers and a crew of ten, making it the world’s deadliest civil aviation disaster at the time.
Numerology
Mathematically, 12 is one of the two “sublime numbers.” The number 12 is often considered a number of completeness (12 months in a year, 12 zodiac signs, etc.), and the number 13 is seen as irregular and disruptive, contributing to its reputation as an unlucky number.
The “Black Friday” Bushfires (1939)
About twenty thousand square kilometers of land burned in fires in Victoria, Australia, which killed 71 people and caused extensive damage. Due to extensive damage caused by the fires on “Black Friday,” January 13, 1939, this disaster is considered one of the worst bushfires in Australian history.
The Death of Tupac Shakur (1996)
Tupac Shakur died on September 13, 1996, six days after a gunman in a white Cadillac shot him four times in the chest at a stoplight in Las Vegas. He was 25 at the time. To date, the person responsible for his death has not been brought to justice.
Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Sinking (2012)
On January 13, 2012, the Costa Concordia wrecked just off the coast of an Italian island in shallow water because the married ship captain had sailed it too close to the island to impress his mistress, a Moldovan dancer. The disaster killed 32 people and seriously injured many others.
Norse Mythology
A Norse myth about 12 gods having a dinner party at Valhalla is another source mentioned for the unlucky nature of the number 13. Loki, the trickster god, arrived as the 13th guest and orchestrated events that led to the death of the beloved god Balder, making the day of this event an unlucky one.
Buffalo Snowstorm (2006)
On October 12th and 13th, 2006, a localized, intense, and early-season lake-effect snowstorm hit the city of Buffalo and its surrounding areas. The surprise blizzard left nearly half a million people without power.
Sam Patch’s Fatal Jump (1829)
On Friday, November 6, 1829, about 10,000 spectators gathered on the Genesee’s river banks, eagerly awaiting the showman. According to the story, Patch pushed his loyal bear off the cliff first; after the bear successfully survived the fall, Patch hurled himself down the falls. Due to the success, he did another jump the following Friday, the 13th, which he did not survive.
It has a Phobia
Paraskevidekatriaphobia is the scientific name for people who have a phobia of Friday the 13th, and the scientific name for the irrational fear of the number 13 is triskaidekaphobia. Austrian-American composer Arnold Schoenberg spent his life in fear of the number 13; though born on September 13, 1874, he suffered “horrendous panic attacks” due to triskaidekaphobia. He died at the age of 76, a number whose digits add up to 13, on Friday, July 13, 1951.
Swedish DC-3 Disappearance (1952)
On Friday, June 13, 1952, a Swedish military airplane disappeared over the Baltic Sea. It was later revealed to have been shot down by a Soviet fighter. It was also found that the Swedish flight wasn’t as innocent as they had claimed and was a reconnaissance mission.
Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Birth (1821)
Nathan Bedford Forrest, born July 13, 1821, near Chapel Hill, Tennessee, was a Confederate commander in the Civil War. His command was responsible for the massacre of African American Union troops stationed at Fort Pillow, and he served as the first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.
Asteroid 99942 Apophis Close Approach (2029)
Apophis is expected to pass close to Earth on Friday, April 13, 2029. This will be the closest approach to Earth by an asteroid of this size, about 1,100 feet in width, that scientists have known about in advance.
The “Friday the 13th” Virus (1989)
Every Friday the 13th, when triggered, this virus eliminated computer files and programs that were used on that specific day. The virus would infect a computer through the use of CD-ROM, floppy disks, and email attachments every year. It contributed to some severe crashes worldwide.
13 Is a Good Omen
In pagan practice, the number 13 stood as the symbol of feminine power due to the 13 menstrual cycles of each year. When Christianity gained momentum in the Middle Ages, leaders took objection to the worship of multiple gods and goddesses. The pagan celebration of Friday, the number 13, and the goddesses who invoked love, sex, fertility, magic, and pleasure were deemed unholy.
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