References to Friday the 13th as a day connected with bad luck generally began to show up in western literature around the mid-17th century. There are quotes referencing Friday the 13th that date back to 1656, or perhaps earlier. Friday's were considered a bad day for many ordinary tasks, from writing letters to conducting business and receiving medical treatment.
"Now Friday came, you old wives say, Of all the week's the unluckiest day." (1656)
"I knew another poor woman, who lost half her time in waiting for lucky days, and made it a rule never to . . . write a letter on business . . . on a Friday — so her business was never done, and her fortune suffered accordingly." (1804)
"There are still a few respectable tradesmen and merchants who will not transact business, or be bled, or take physic, on a Friday, because it is an unlucky day." (1831)
There are many references in history that list activities that should be avoided on Fridays, and more than likely this included the most superstitious of days, Friday the 13th.
Needleworking: "I knew an old lady who, if she had nearly completed a piece of needlework on a Thursday, would put it aside unfinished, and set a few stitches in her next undertaking, that she might not be obliged either to begin the new task on Friday or to remain idle for a day." (1883)
Harvesting: "My father once decided to start harvest on a Friday, and men went out on the Thursday evening, and, unpaid, cut along one side of the first field with their scythes, in order to dodge the malign fates which a Friday start would begin." (1933)
Laying the keel of, or launching, a ship: "Fisherman would have great misgivings about laying the keel of a new boat on Friday, as well as launching one on that day." (1885)
Beginning a sea voyage: "Sailors are many of them superstitious ... A voyage begun [on a Friday] is sure to be an unfortunate one." (1823)
Beginning a journey: "I knew another poor woman, who . . . made it a rule never to . . . set out on a journey on a Friday." (1804)
Giving birth: "A child born on a Friday is doomed to misfortune." (1846)
Getting married: "As to Friday, a couple married on that day are doomed to a cat-and-dog life." (1879)
Recovering from illness: "If you have been ill, don't get up for the first time on a Friday." (1923)
Hearing news: "If you hear anything new on a Friday, it gives you another wrinkle on your face, and adds a year to your age." (1883)
Moving: "Don't move on a Friday, or you won't stay there very long." (1982)
Starting a new job: "Servants who go into their situations on Friday, never go to stay." (1923)
Of course, a child could be born on a Friday with complete safety if it was also Good Friday, according to a quote from 1870:
"It was accounted unlucky for a child to be born on a Friday, unless it happened to be Good Friday, when the event was counterbalanced by the sanctity of the day." (1870)
Many different sources for the superstition surrounding the number thirteen have been posited, the most common stemming from another Christian source, the Last Supper, at which Judas Iscariot was said to have been the thirteenth guest to sit at the table. It was rumored in the 18th Century that thirteen people sitting down to a meal together presaged that one of them would die within the year.
"I have known, and now know, persons in genteel life who did, and do, not sit down to table unmoved with twelve others. Our notion is that one of the thirteen so partaking, will die ere the expiry of the year." (1823)
"The old story runs, that the last individual of the thirteen who takes a seat has the greatest chance of being the 'doomed one'." (1839)
Although superstitions don't seem to run as deep as they did in the 18th century, many still believe that the number 13 combined with Friday is a day to try to steer clear of bad luck.
Perhaps retailers could change this and start offering freebie and deals on Friday the 13th just like they do on Black Friday. Might change some of the long believed superstitions.
Cheryl Phillips
HULIQ.com
sources: snopes, infoplease
Posted November 13th, 2009 by Cheryl Phillips
