Friday the 13th is famously considered an unlucky day, but its association with misfortune and its specific ties to women have complex origins rooted in history, religion, and cultural superstitions. Here’s a casual look at the history of the Friday the 13th myth and its connections to women:
Origins of Friday the 13th Superstition
- Fear of the Number 13 (Triskaidekaphobia): The number 13 has long been considered unlucky in Western cultures. Many buildings skip the 13th floor, and some airlines omit row 13 on planes. The superstition dates back to ancient times and is often attributed to its position after 12, which is seen as a “complete” number (12 months of the year, 12 zodiac signs, 12 apostles, etc.). Adding one more is thought to bring imbalance.
- Friday’s Negative Connotations: Fridays have historically been considered unlucky, particularly in Christianity, but in other cultures as well. It is believed that Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden on a Friday, and Jesus was crucified on Good Friday. In Christian tradition, 13 is tied to the Last Supper, where Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th guest. For centuries, many people avoided starting new ventures or journeys on Fridays. In Norse mythology, Friday is associated with the goddess Frigg (or Frigga), the wife of Odin and the goddess of love and fertility. As Christianity spread, pagan deities were often demonized, and Frigg became associated with witchcraft, further cementing Friday’s unlucky reputation. Also, in Norse mythology, Loki, the trickster god, was the 13th guest at a banquet in Valhalla, where he caused the death of the beloved god Balder, leading to the idea that 13 people at a table is unlucky.
Gendered Superstitions and Associations: A Close Connection to Women
- Goddess Worship and Friday: In ancient Norse mythology, Friday is associated with Frigg (or Freyja), the goddess of love, fertility, and wisdom. Fridays were considered a lucky day for women, associated with femininity and the household. However, as patriarchal religions and societies grew, these older associations were demonized, and what was once a positive connection became tainted.
- Witchcraft and Women: The number 13 also has historical ties to women through the lunar calendar, which has 13 full moons a year. In ancient times, this was significant for women, symbolizing menstrual cycles and love and fertility, associated with the goddess Frigg and later Venus (in Roman mythology). In some pagan traditions, 13 was a sacred number tied to female divinity. However, as witch hunts and the vilification of women’s practices rose, anything associated with women’s magic and wisdom, including the number 13, was cast in a negative light. Women, particularly those who were healers, midwives, or simply different from societal norms, were often accused of witchcraft. Fridays became associated with witches’ gatherings, sometimes called “covens,” which were believed to have 13 members.
- Misogyny and the Unlucky Day: During the rise of Christianity and the suppression of paganism, women were often scapegoated as the bringers of bad luck, sin, or evil. The vilification of Friday the 13th is part of this broader historical pattern. What was once seen as a celebration of femininity and natural cycles became stigmatized.
- Menstrual Cycles: The number 13 is also connected to femininity through the lunar cycle, which governs menstruation. There are roughly 13 menstrual cycles in a year, aligning the number with female power, which was often feared or misunderstood in patriarchal societies.
- Knights Templar and Misogyny: A popular, though historically debated, theory ties Friday the 13th to the arrest of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307, by King Philip IV of France. While this event isn’t directly related to women, the medieval period was rife with misogyny, and the persecution of the Templars can be seen as part of the broader culture of fear and suppression of those who were different, including women.
Friday the 13th in Modern Culture
- The negative connotations of Friday the 13th were popularized in part by the 1907 novel Friday, the Thirteenth by Thomas W. Lawson, which depicted a stockbroker taking advantage of the superstition to crash the stock market.
- The 1980 horror movie Friday the 13th further cemented the day’s association with fear and bad luck, although it doesn’t directly tie to women or historical origins but instead plays on existing fears. The franchise gets scarier, gorier, and more daring, as it goes on.
- In contemporary culture, Friday the 13th has been reclaimed in various ways. For example, feminist movements have sometimes embraced the day as a time to celebrate feminine strength and to challenge the negative connotations associated with it. In a modern twist, some view Friday the 13th as a day of empowerment, particularly for women, rather than one of fear.
Conclusion
Friday the 13th’s reputation as an unlucky day is a product of multiple historical, religious, and cultural influences, many of which intersect with the historical marginalization of women and their associations with certain symbols like the number 13 and Fridays. While these superstitions may seem quaint or even silly today, they reflect deeper narratives about societal attitudes towards women, power, and the supernatural. So, just think of a Friday the 13th as “Girl Power Day.” That is all…carry on!