Friday the 13th is just the beginning
The 7 Unluckiest Days Around the World
Why Friday? And why the 13th?
Friday the 13th is considered a bad omen in many Western countries, including England, Ireland, Canada, Germany and the United States. Friday’s negative connotation may stem from it being the day the Romans typically held crucifixions—and therefore it’s thought to be the day Jesus was crucified.
One possible explanation for 13’s bad reputation may originate with a Norse myth in which the trickster god Loki was the 13th guest at a banquet and managed to bring about several deaths. Other sources tie the number’s significance to the fact that there were 13 people in attendance at the Last Supper.
China: April 4th
The Chinese word for the number four sounds remarkably like the word for “death.” (This is also true in Japan.) Therefore, April 4 (or 4/4) is China’s contribution to the list of unlucky days around the world. Additionally, many hotels in China do not have a fourth floor, for the same reason many office buildings don’t have 13th floors.
Greece: Tuesday the 13th
Greeks dislike Tuesday because their word for the day is Triti, which also means “third,” and bad luck comes in threes. The culture’s dislike of the number 13—and Tuesdays—stems from the fall of Constantinople, which apparently took place on Tuesday the 13th.
Italy: Friday the 17th
For this superstition, we must involve Roman numerals: 17 (XVII) is dangerously close to VIXI, which means “I have lived” and implies death in the present.
Japan: September 9th
In Japanese, the word nine sounds similar to the Japanese word for “torture” or “suffering,” making September 9 (or 9/9) a lousy day for a birthday.
Spain: Tuesday the 13th
Like the Greeks, Spaniards really hold it against the Ottoman Turks, who took Constantinople on Tuesday the 13th during the Fourth Crusade. Martes, the Spanish word for “Tuesday,” comes from the god of war, Mars, adding to its ominous reputation.
India: August 8th
Eight is the number of the Hindu god Shani, also represented by Saturn, who happens to be the deity of misfortune. That means 8/8 is an inauspicious date in Indian culture.
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Sources:
- Mental Floss: “Why is Friday the 13th Considered Unlucky?”
- NPR: “The possible origins of Friday the 13th and other unlucky days”
- Britannica: “Friday the 13th”
- Guidable: “Superstition or Cultural Fact? Major Unlucky Numbers To Know About in Japan”
- An American in Rome: “Why 17 is Unlucky in Italy”
- Coto Japanese Academy: “20 Unique Japanese Superstitions Explained: Meaning & Origins”
- U.S News & World Report: “13 Superstitions From Around the World”
- The Economic Times: “Varanasi astrologers suggest August 8 related to Saturn”
