Unmasking the Origins of Friday the 13th: A Superstitious Tale!

Friday the 13th, often considered an unlucky spooky day, has captured our imagination worldwide for centuries. This superstition, rooted in mystery, fear and folklore, has inspired millions of stories, movies, and the incredible Friday the 13th iconic horror movies. But what are the origins of Friday the 13th, and how did it become one of the most feared dates on the calendar? Let’s embark on a journey through history and check out the origins of this eerie superstition and where it came from…

It’s Your Unlucky Number 13

Before we delve into the history of Friday the 13th, we need to understand the cultural significance of both the number 13 and the day Friday individually.

The number 13 has long been associated with bad luck and superstitions in various cultures around the world. In many Western societies, it is considered unlucky due to its irregular and somewhat ominous appearance, which has roots in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Thirteen individuals attended the Last Supper, including Jesus and Judas Iscariot, his pal who later betrayed him with a kiss of all things! This association with betrayal and ill fate contributed to the superstition surrounding the number.

Friday, on the other hand, has a far weirder history. In some cultures, Friday is seen as an unlucky day due to religious beliefs. For example, it is said that Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden on a Friday. In Norse mythology, Friday was named after Frigg, the goddess of love, and some considered it a lucky day. This perception has added to the mystique of Fridays.

The Genesis of Friday the 13th

The specific origin of Friday the 13th is tricky to pinpoint, but it appears to have gained momentum during the late Middle Ages. One common theory suggests that the Knights Templar’s arrest on Friday, October 13, 1307, played a significant role in solidifying the superstition. King Philip IV of France ordered the mass arrest of Templar knights, accusing them of heresy, blasphemy, and various other charges. Many Templars met their gruesome end following these arrests…you hear a lot about these guys in The Da Vinci Code.

Another historical event that may have contributed to the superstition is the publication of Thomas Lawson’s novel, “Friday, the Thirteenth,” in 1907. The book tells the story of a broker who uses the superstition to create chaos on Wall Street. While the novel itself may not have created the superstition, it certainly brought it to a more modern audience.

Superstitions and Pop Culture

As the years passed, the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th continued to grow, bolstered by pop culture, books, and folklore. The concept of Friday the 13th as a day of ill omen became ingrained in society, and it became embedded in films, books, and other media.

The most iconic manifestation of this superstition is the “Friday the 13th” film, which began in 1980 with a movie of the same name. The series features a masked killer named Jason Voorhees, whose gruesome acts of violence coincide with the ill-fated date. These movies propelled the association between Friday the 13th and terror in the collective imagination and the superstition went to a whole other level!

And so…

The origins of Friday the 13th are shrouded in history and superstition. While the exact moment when the fear of this date was born remains a mystery, it is clear that a combination of factors, including historical events and cultural beliefs, contributed to its reputation as an unlucky day. Today, the superstition endures, and many people continue to avoid making important decisions or taking significant risks on this day, fearing the wrath of bad luck. Whether you consider it a genuine belief or merely a curiosity, the legacy of Friday the 13th as a day of superstition and fear is undoubtedly here to stay.

Of course Friday the 13th plays a big role at Halloween and our selection of Halloween Costumes includes the always popular Jason Hockey Mask and Machete Set amongst other costumes like our Ghost Face Adult Ice Hockey Jersey Halloween Costume and Jason’s Halloween counterpart’s Michael Myers Costumes.