Friday the 13th is what you make of it!
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Friday the 13th - Lucky or unlucky?
By Abdullah Bin Shehzad
LAHORE – Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day in Western superstition. It occurs when the 13th day of the month falls on a Friday.
Information gleaned from various sources say this happens at least once a year but can occur up to three times in a single year. For example, in 2015, Friday the 13th occurred in February, March and November. The years 2017 through 2020 had two occurrences each, while 2016, 2021 and 2022 had only one and 2023 and 2024 will have two Friday the 13ths each. This pattern happens as any month that begins on a Sunday will have a Friday the 13th.
The origins of this belief are uncertain but it is thought to have arisen from a combination of the unlucky number 13 and the association of Fridays with executions in the middle ages.
There are a variety of superstitions associated with Friday the 13th. Some people believe that it is a day when bad luck is more likely to occur, and they may avoid undertaking important tasks or making major decisions on this day. Others take more drastic measures such as staying indoors or refusing to leave their houses at all.
Many people believe that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day for those who are already prone to bad luck. Some people say it is a day when accidents and misfortunes are more likely to occur. There are those who believe that it is a day when evil spirits and ghosts are more active, and that it is a day when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest.
Fear of the number 13 has even earned a psychological term: triskaidekaphobia.
Why Friday the 13th is considered unlucky?
According to biblical tradition, 13 guests attended the Last Supper, held on Maundy Thursday, including Jesus and his 12 apostles (one of whom, Judas, betrayed him). The next day, of course, was Good Friday, the day of Jesus’ crucifixion.
The seating arrangement at the Last Supper is believed to have given rise to a longstanding Christian superstition that having 13 guests at a table was a bad omen - specifically, that it was courting death.
Though Friday’s negative associations are weaker, some have suggested they also have roots in Christian tradition: Just as Jesus was crucified on a Friday, it is said to be the day Eve gave Adam the fateful apple from the Tree of Knowledge, as well as the day Cain killed his brother, Abel.
There are a lot of movies, short films and docudramas made on the topic. A movie named “Friday the 13th” is also a 1980 American slasher film which was produced and directed by Sean S. Cunningham, written by Victor Miller, and starring Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Harry Crosby, Laurie Bartram, Mark Nelson, Jeannine Taylor, Robbi Morgan, and Kevin Bacon.
Its plot follows a group of teenage camp counselors who are murdered one by one by an unknown killer while attempting to re-open an abandoned summer camp.
Meanwhile, “Friday the 13th” has eight different parts with different plots and twists. Many films with the same name and topic have also been made after that
Despite the superstitions surrounding Friday the 13th, it is important to remember that it is just another day and there is no scientific evidence to support the idea that it is any more likely to be unlucky than any other day of the year. While it is true that some people may experience bad luck on this day, it is just as likely that they may experience good luck instead. Therefore, it is better to approach it with a positive attitude and try not to let superstitions dictate your actions.
