There Will Be a Friday the 13th in October, Truly Making It the Spookiest Month of All
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If you're superstitious, you might hurry to the other side of the road at the first sighting of a black cat. We get it, you're trying to have a good day. And yes, it makes sense that you'd be wary of ever stepping on a crack on a public street. Your mother's back will remain in pristine condition if it's the last thing you do! But more than anything, you're going to stay on high alert when your calendar shows the date Friday the 13th. It's considered one of the unluckiest dates of the year!
Halloween in itself is eerie. (Uh, have you read the history?) But everyone knows that once Friday the 13th is mentioned—whether it be in Halloween movie or a spooky book—you're in for a day of mystery. So, what are the origins of Friday the 13th anyway? Why is that date believed to be unlucky, and does it have to do anything with the number 13? Plus, when is the next Friday the 13th? Don't worry, because we've got those answers for you.
Why is Friday the 13th unlucky?
It's shrouded in mystery, but scholars agree that there may be one common denominator to the origin of the fears that surround the date: Judas, the 13th guest at the Last Supper.
If you're familiar with the stories in the Bible, you know that the Last Supper saw Jesus invite 12 apostles to a dinner, filling the room with 13 people. That evening is when it was revealed that Judas betrayed Jesus, marking for one of the most widely known stories from the Bible.
From there, it was thought that the idea of having 13 people seated at table was bad practice, as biblical scholars associated the tragic event with it. This occurrence ultimately led to Jesus' crucifixion, which took place on a Friday. Though the latter is more loosely associated to the Friday the 13th phenomena, there are other instances of Friday being a disorderly day throughout the Bible, with Eve thought to have given Adam the forbidden fruit on a Friday, and with the fatal story of brothers Cain and Abel also happening on a Friday.
All of these facts together are what biblical scholars believe to have caused initial fear around Friday the 13th.
So, is Friday the 13th really unlucky?
Well, it really depends on your personal beliefs and personal experiences. Those who believe in the superstition believe that you're not supposed to travel, make purchases, or engage in any sort of life-changing event come Friday the 13th—or you'll feel the wrath of its power. If you needed more to feed into your curiosity, well, there are countless lists on the internet of things that have historically went wrong on the haunted day.
When is the next Friday the 13th?
The next Friday the 13th will be on Friday, October 13 2023! So, not only will we have the unlucky day to worry about, but we'll also have to prepare for the fact that it's taking place in the spookiest months of all! 😱
Fun fact: While some years don't see a Friday the 13th, others may see as many as two in
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