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You are here: Home / Odds / Why Is the Number 13 Considered Unlucky?

Why Is the Number 13 Considered Unlucky?

May 27, 2020 by Karen Hill

Many people believe that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day, that the 13th floor of a building is unlucky, or that the number 13 in general is unlucky. No one seems to know exactly why this came to be so, but there are many possible explanations.

One is that the superstition goes back to the Last Supper. There were 13 people at the meal, including Jesus Christ, and Judas was thought to be the 13th guest.

In some ancient European religions, there were 12 good gods and one evil god; the evil god was called the 13th god. And a meeting of witches, called a Sabbath, required at least 13 witches.

Friday has also long been considered unlucky, perhaps because Christ died on Friday. Since Friday and the number 13 are both considered unlucky, then Friday the 13th is considered the unluckiest day of all!

Related Facts

  • Why Is 13 an Unlucky Number?
  • Why is Friday the 13th Considered to be Bad Luck and How Did the Unlucky Day Originate?
  • Top 25 Inventions That Changed Our Lives Forever
  • How Else is the Number Thirteen Considered Unlucky and What Does Devil’s Luck Mean?
  • History of Elevators
  • Why Is “Three on a Match” Considered Unlucky?

Filed Under: Odds

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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