For centuries, Friday the 13th has been a date shrouded in a veil of bad luck and misfortune. While the exact origins of this potent superstition are lost to history, its roots are a tangled web of cultural beliefs and historical events that have cemented its sinister reputation. This ominously-named day is a perfect example of our human desire to find meaning and patterns in the world's most random and horrific events.
The fear of Friday the 13th is a powerful blend of two separate superstitions. In Christian tradition, Friday is marked by the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, while the number 13 is forever associated with betrayal, thanks to Judas Iscariot, the thirteenth apostle to join the Last Supper. This double-whammy of bad luck has manifested in countless ways, from buildings skipping the 13th floor to the mythical death of a guest if 13 people gather at a dinner table. In an effort to defy this superstition, a club was formed in the 1880s where members, including five US presidents, would gather for a meal of 13 people on the 13th of the month. According to one unsubstantiated rumour, the club's very first meeting ended in a tragic accident that claimed all 13 lives.
Beyond superstition, this infamous date has been linked to some of history's most catastrophic events. Perhaps the most famous is the coordinated arrest of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307. The powerful and wealthy religious order was accused of heresy and other heinous crimes by the French King Philip IV, who was eager to seize their assets. The Knights were arrested, tortured, and forced to confess, leading to the dissolution of the order and the execution of many of its leaders.
More recently, Friday the 13th has been tied to events of equal peril. The Bola Cyclone, one of the deadliest storms ever recorded, struck Bangladesh on Friday, November 13, 1970, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. Just two years later, a plane crash in the Andes on Friday, October 13, 1972, left survivors to face extreme conditions that led them to resort to cannibalism.
For some, the date is more than just a link to historical tragedies—it's a source of modern-day hauntings. The Stockbridge Bypass, a road in England opened on a Friday the 13th in 1988, has since become a notorious hotspot for paranormal activity. Security guards and police officers have reported sightings of spectral children and a terrifying, cloaked figure with a featureless face. The ghostly occurrences have continued to this day, making the road a grim tribute to its ominous opening.
Whether you're a believer in superstition or a fan of the iconic horror franchise, there's no denying that Friday the 13th has a compelling and eerie history.