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Why is Friday the 13th superstitious?

  • The reason is believed to stem from the events surrounding the final hours of Jesus Christ. At the last Supper there were thirteen at the table, Christ and twelve disciples. One of the disciples secretly betrayed Christ and this lead to his death on the following day, Friday. Thus any Friday the thirteenth is thought to be filled with bad omens.
  • So great is the fear of the number thirteen itself that there is actually a word for it - triskaidekaphobia.
  • Friday was also "hangman's day", and there were usually thirteen steps leading up to the gallows.
  • Paraskevidekatriaphobics are people afflicted with a morbid, irrational fear of Friday the 13th

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