Why is fri 13th unlucky

In pagan times, for instance, Friday was believed to have a unique association with the divine feminine. The first clue can actually be found in the weekday name Friday, which is derived from Old English and means "day of Frigg. Frigg gave protection to homes and families, maintained social order, and could weave fate as she did the clouds.

She also possessed the art of prophecy, and could bestow or remove fertility. On the other hand, Freyja, the goddess of love, fertility and war with whom Frigg was often conflated, was endowed with the power to perform magic, predict the future, and determine who would die in battles, and was said to ride a chariot pulled by two black cats.

These goddesses were worshiped widely across Europe and, because of these associations, Friday was considered a lucky day for marriage by Norse and Teutonic people. The Venus of Laussel clutches a crescent-shaped horn bearing 13 notches -- a potential reference to lunar and menstrual cycles. The number 13, meanwhile, has long been regarded as a portentous number by pre-Christian and goddess-worshipping cultures for its link to the number of lunar and menstrual cycles that occur in a calendar year.

Fertility was prized in pagan times, and artwork would often draw connections to menstruation, fertility and the phases of the moon. Take the Venus of Laussel, an approximately 25,year-old limestone carving depicting a voluptuous female figure cradling her pregnant stomach with one hand, and holding a crescent-shaped horn bearing 13 notches in the other. Many scholars believe the figurine may have represented a goddess of fertility in a ritual or ceremony, while the 13 lines are typically read as a reference to the lunar or menstrual cycle, both of which symbolize feminine power.

Rewriting a reputation. As Christianity gained momentum in the Middle Ages, however, paganism stood at odds with the new patriarchal faith. Not only did its leaders take objection to the worship of multiple gods and goddesses, but the celebration of Friday, the number 13, and the goddesses who invoked love, sex, fertility, magic and pleasure were deemed unholy.

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But why is this particular date considered to be extremely unlucky? Take a look below. History: Both Friday and the number 13 have been considered unlucky in certain cultures since ancient times. In early Christianity, Jesus was crucified on a Friday.

He was betrayed by Judas, who was the thirteenth guest at the Last Supper. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Already subscribed? Log in. Forgotten your password?