Latest news with #Friday13th
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Friday 13th is here: Why people think it's unlucky and what's the mystery behind it?
Live Events What is a superstition? Friday the 13th: Why Is the Number 13 Seen as Unlucky? Mystery behind Unlucky Friday (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Friday 13th is considered unlucky in Western culture and people believe bad things can happen on this day due to a long-standing superstition. Friday the 13th is widely recognised as an unlucky day, rooted in ancient superstitions about the number 13 and Fridays being unlucky in some the 13th has long held a place in pop culture, most famously as the title of a popular horror film year, some businesses like Krispy Kreme and Chipotle are embracing the spooky date with special food comparison, last year featured two Friday the 13ths, while 2026 will have three—falling in February, March, and its exact origins are unclear, National Geographic Kids notes the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th likely stems from Christian to Psychology Today, being superstitious means behaving in a way that is either "based on fear of the unknown and/or faith in magic or luck." Superstitions can be culturally informed, the publication also notes, ranging from the evil eye amulets thought to ward off evil in countries like Turkey to the American notion that wishing on a star will bring good luck while opening an umbrella indoors will usher in belief that the number 13 brings bad luck has been around for centuries. According to the BBC, many trace the superstition back to the Bible—specifically to the Last Supper, where Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was said to be the 13th guest.A similar legend exists in Norse mythology, where a dinner among the gods was disrupted by an uninvited 13th guest—Loki—who ultimately brought chaos and darkness to the world. Even today, some cultures view 13 dinner guests as a bad omen, going so far as to add a teddy bear to the table as a symbolic 14th fear of the number 13 runs so deep that many hotels skip 'Room 13,' and high-rise buildings often jump from the 12th to the 14th floor. Even some airlines avoid having a 13th row on their various traditions, Friday has long been associated with misfortune. According to the Bible, several troubling events took place on a Friday, including the onset of the Great Flood and the moment Adam and Eve committed the first Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, written in the 1300s, also links Friday with "mischance." In historical England, the day was even known as "Hangman's Day"—when executions by hanging were typically carried specific fear surrounding Friday the 13th, however, appears to be a more recent development. An 1834 French literary article noted, "It is always Fridays and the number 13 that bring bad luck."Interestingly, there's even a name for the fear of Friday the 13th: its ominous reputation in some cultures, Friday holds deep spiritual significance in others. In Islam, Friday is considered the holiest day of the week, while in Judaism, Friday evening ushers in Shabbat—the sacred day of rest.
USA Today
21 hours ago
- General
- USA Today
What luck! Today is only Friday 13th this year. What to know about this 'unlucky' day
What luck! Today is only Friday 13th this year. What to know about this 'unlucky' day Did you know it's the unluckiest day of year? But luckily for us, it's the only Friday the 13th in 2025. So, Good morning Friday the 13th! Some people consider the day an extremely unlucky day, which can land as often as three times a year on the calendar. Why is it so unlucky? Some point references in the Bible. A couple of the bad omens: ◾ Judas, the 13th person at the Last Supper in the Bible, is believed to have betrayed Jesus. ◾ Friday: Several unsettling events occurred on the day, including Jesus' crucifixion. There are other reasons to worry about 13 beyond the Bible. According to Norse mythology, Loki, the 13th guest, interrupted the gods' dinner party by plunging the world into darkness. When is the next Friday 13th? Typically, there are just two per year. Luckily, there will only be one in 2025. However, there will be three in 2026, which might be an especially unsettling year for some. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. More: Friday the 13th is here. Here's why people think it's unlucky. Does the number 13 frighten some people? If Friday the 13th worries you, others share your fear. It's possible that you have triskaidekaphobia, or a phobia of the number 13. But if the number 13 only terrifies you on Fridays, you may have paraskevidekatriaphobia, or the fear of Friday the 13th. According to an online survey by Americans think walking under a ladder brings more bad luck than Friday the 13th. For most people, fearing Friday the 13th is a harmless superstition – something we may playfully pretend to fear. At the same time, it wouldn't hurt to toss some salt over your shoulder on Friday or keep your eyes open for a penny on the sidewalk. This story previously ran on Dec. 12 and has been updated to add new information. CONTRIBUTING Jim Sergent/USA TODAY
Extra.ie
21 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Extra.ie
Friday 13th
Why is todays date considered by some to be the unluckiest day of the year, so much so that some people won't even get out of bed if the 13th happens to be a Friday. Where did we get this idea that the day of the week and month could possibly hold such power over us and why is Friday 13th seen as such an abnormally ominous day? There is no definitive answer to that question. Pic: Getty Images If we choose to go way back in time and attribute the 13th to a religious event, then we could say the date is considered unlucky, as in the time of the Last Supper, the 13th and last guest to arrive was none other than Judas Iscariot. The biblical account of Adam and Eve's expulsion from the Garden of Eden is said to have occurred on a Friday, and the crucifixion of Jesus also took place on a Friday. Astrologically the date is seen as a day of 'Empowerment' and is said to be 'profoundly ingrained in positive symbolism of feminine power, transformation and creativity'. What exactly this might mean for women is not so clear, but take it to be a day when we can feel extra powerful and sure of ourselves. Pic: Getty Images But the superstitions around Friday 13th continue to persist, with many people not travelling, not making decisions and some not even going outside their front door. Before you despair entirely, there are several things you can do to try to keep bad luck from following and finding you, and the good folks at Farmers Almanac have even compiled a list of things to do including, KNOCK ON WOOD It was once believed that good spirits lived in trees and that by knocking on anything made from wood, we can call upon these spirits for protection against misfortune. FIND A FOUR LEAFED CLOVER Pic: Shutterstock Not as easy to do as you might think, these little leaves are not exactly everywhere but if you have time to spare, its a nice way to spend an hour peering into your lawn in the hopes of finding the four leafed wonder WEAR YOUR CLOTHES INSIDE OUT No one seems to know how this superstition originated, but the belief that wearing your clothes inside out or back to front is a superstition that still persists – Have a look at sports fans, especially in the US wearing baseball caps back to front during important games for good luck. TAKE A WALK IN THE RAIN Pic: Shutterstock This one should be easy for anyone living in Ireland, chances are you will get ready for a walk as the sun is shining but before you've rounded the first corner of the road, the black clouds will roll in and you will get soaked in a deluge, but don't worry, its good luck! There are a number of other superstitions too, with unknown origins, some of which are linked to the popularity of several movies and ideas in popular culture like the horror movie 'Friday the 13th' which has also contributed hugely to the fear of the day, as it features a killer, Jason Voorhees, who terrorizes a summer camp on this date. But if you want to be extra sure, as well as doing all of the above to invite good luck, you must also avoid the following… Do NOT allow a black cat to cross your path on a Friday 13th, move along pussycat. Pic: Getty Images Try not to break any mirrors, don't walk under any ladders and under no circumstances should you open an umbrella indoors today of all days. Be safe out there and Happy Friday 13th.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Reason Friday the 13th 'curse' started and why date is deemed so unlucky
Friday 13th is considered to be the unluckiest day on the calendar - but many people have no idea how it became such a dreaded date and about the 'cursed' events that have happened in the past on this date The infamous Friday 13th is often regarded as the most ill-fated date on the calendar - yet many are still puzzled about its origins. This sparked a social media query: "Explain like I'm five: Why is Friday the 13th considered bad luck? I'm familiar with the movies, but when/where/how/why did "Friday the 13th" get its bad rap?". The number 13's unlucky reputation is rooted in a Norse myth, which tells the story of 12 gods hosting a dinner party in Valhalla. However, the trickster god Loki crashed the party as the uninvited 13th guest, orchestrating the death of the god of joy, Balder, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. This event supposedly triggered widespread suffering, thus rendering the number 13 unlucky. Christians also consider the number 13 inauspicious due to its connection to Jesus's Last Supper and crucifixion, where 13 people were present on the 13th of Nisan Maundy Thursday. Friday 13th, in particular, gained notoriety as an unlucky day only after the 19th century. It is believed that a series of unfortunate events occurring on various Friday 13ths contributed to this superstition. One such event, as reported by took place on Friday, October 13, 1307, when King Philip IV of France's officers arrested hundreds of Knights Templar, a powerful military and religious order established in the 12th century to defend the Holy Land. Accusations of varying illicit activities landed many Templars in prison. While it's believed that the king's true motive was to gain control over their wealth, a number of them were subsequently executed. This historical event has been linked by some to the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th, although the full truth behind these legends is still unclear. Modern history has seen its share of tragedies on Friday the 13th as well, including events such as the German bombing of Buckingham Palace during September 1940; Kitty Genovese's brutal slaying in Queens, New York, in March 1964; an immensely destructive cyclone in Bangladesh claiming over 300,000 lives in November 1970; the loss of a Chilean Air Force plane in the Andes come October 1972; the death of rapper Tupac Shakur in September 1996; and the Costa Concordia cruise liner disaster near Italy's coast, which led to 30 deaths in January 2012. A Reddit user weighed in on the subject stating: "It's a reference to the crucifixion of Jesus, which took place on a Friday. He was betrayed by one of the attendants of the Last Supper, famously being the 13th person at that table." Supplementing this viewpoint, another user mentioned: "Its been my understanding that Friday the 13th was the day Phillip the Fair took down the Order of the Knights Templar." Another chimed in with the remark: "It is the date in which the leading members of the Knight Templars were arrested in France." So do you believe in the superstition? Don't forget to leave us your thoughts in the comments section below.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Karl Stefanovic left enraged after chilling Friday 13th Today show prank: 'That's not funny'
Karl Stefanovic received quite a fright on Friday as he prepared to do a live cross on the Today show. The host, 50, was in Tweed Heads ahead of surfer Mick Fanning's charity golf day. As he prepared to deliver the cross, Karl was interrupted by a spooky Friday 13th prank as he stood in the chilly Tweed Heads pre-dawn. In a clip shared to the Today Instagram page, a producer can be heard asking Karl to 'look down.' Apparently already wise to the potential ruse, Karl replied: 'I'm not going to look down you're trying to wind me up.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Curiosity got the better of Karl who then looked to the ground, shocked at what he discovered. He almost jumped out of his skin when he realised he was standing next to a snake and he quickly made every effort to extricate himself from the potentially dangerous situation. His efforts were in vain however, as the snake, eventually identified as a rubber replica, followed Karl as he jumped around the carpark. It had not come to life, but was rather attached to Karl's jacket. The host then picked up the offending rubber reptile and hurled it back toward the crew and to Today presenter Tim Davies who appeared to have engendered the prank. 'Who did that?' he demanded looking less than pleased. 'That's not funny.' Co-host Sarah Abo did not escape the spooky shenanigans, either. The clip also showed the Nine star walking into a dressing room that was occupied by Tim who was wearing a scream-worthy clown mask. His efforts were in vain however, as the snake, eventually identified as a rubber replica, followed Karl as he jumped around the carpark. It had not come to life, but was rather attached to Karl's jacket. 'Who did that?' he demanded, looking less than pleased. 'That's not funny' Like her co-star, Sarah, 39, was genuinely shocked by the surreptitious scare, almost immediately darting out of the room in fear. Tim appeared more than chuffed that his scare tactic was successful, throwing his arms triumphantly into the air as he gleefully shouted, 'yeah!' The hilarious clip issued a raft of laughing face emojis in the comments section, while some fans disagreed with Karl's assessment of the situation. 'Quite the contrary @karlstefanovic_ that was EXTREMELY funny,' one quipped. 'Well played @mr_timdavies well bloody played.' Another, noticing Karl's reaction the prank, chimed in with: 'Lighten up Karl. It's p*** funny.' One fan suggested that there was a more nefarious reason behind Tim's pranks - he way vying for a hosting gig on the popular Nine breakfast show. 'Trying to take few years off the hosts' lives, so they retire earlier?' they asked. Another fan empathised with Karl, adding: 'From one snake phobia person to another.. that is not funny. Got him good though.' Sarah, too jumped into the comments to congratulate Tim on a job well done. '@mr_timdavies you got me SO GOOD,' to which he replied: 'Sorry, not sorry.' Karl's snake fright comes after declaring he would run nude into the surf at Bondi Beach if Queensland loses game two of the State Of Origin rugby league clash. He called in to Triple M this week to goad former NSW second-rower Aaron Woods and lay down the daring wager. 'Here's the bet, Woodsy,' he announced. 'The loser of the Origin game in Perth runs naked into the Bondi surf.' Woods, no stranger to big challenges, didn't hesitate. 'We're on, Karlos,' he said. Stefanovic then added: 'Next to Richard Wilkins.'
