Are you afraid to buy new goods on 13th? Or afraid to live in a 13 story building? If yes, then you have superstitions stuck inside your head. Just like crossing paths with a black cat or breaking mirror, Friday the 13th is also associated with bad luck. Paraskevidekatriaphobia, fear of Friday the 13th has always haunted people with its spooky stories. The superstition is believed to arise from the story of “Jesus’ last supper and crucifixion” in which 13 individuals were present in the upper room on the 13th of Nisan Maundy Thursday, the night before the death of Jesus on Good Friday. Being afraid of the unlucky day most of the people refuse to travel, buy a house, or act on a hot stock tip, these things may seem to be small and normal at the micro level that the U.S. suffers a loss around $900 million in business this day. Not all countries fears this combination, in Italy Friday the 17th is considered the day of bad luck. The belief originated by shuffling the Roman numeral equivalent of number 17 which XVII which can be shuffled to VIXI meaning “I have lived”.
Though there is no logical reason to fear the coincidence of any day and date but many noticeable events lies which makes the day dreadful. Here’s the list of few such events which proves the coincidence has perceptible impacts.
The Killing of Knight Templar:
On September 14, 1307, King Philip IV “The Fair” of France issued a seal mandate asking to make preparations for the arrest of every French Templar at dawn of October 13, 1307. On Friday the 13th, Templar Grand Master, Jacques de Molay and every Templar in France were arrested, tortured and burned to death thus marking the beginning of the end of the dutiful and brave Knight Templar.
Uruguay Flight Crash:
On Friday 13th, 1972 Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashed in the Andes. Out of 45 passengers, 29 died and remaining 16 survived, eating the flesh of the dead passenger.
Spooky Lightning Strike:
A 13-year-old boy had his unluckiest day of life after being struck by lightning at 13.13 on Friday 13th, 2010.
Code of Hammurabi:
In the ancient Babylonian history (1700s BC) the code of Hammurabi had didn’t have a law numbered 13. Babylonians considered 13 to be unlucky because of Song of Ishtar whose thirteenth line contains the name of the goddess of death.
Costa Concordia Disaster:
January Friday the 13th, witnessed the death of 32 people when a ship struck by a rock sank at the coast of Tuscany.
