Don't hang mistletoe on Friday the 13th

I have no idea why Friday came to be considered an unlucky day, but one of early stories which associates the number 13 with bad luck comes from Norse mythology.

The queen of the gods, Frigga, had made everything in creation swear that it would never harm her son, Baldur, who was the most beloved of all the gods. The one creature who did not so swear was the mistletoe plant, which Frigga regarded as harmless.

There was a feast in Baldur's honor. Twelve gods were there in all. And then the 13th showed up, Loki. To make a long story short, Loki tricked his brother Hother into throwing a dart made of mistletoe at Baldur, and it killed him.

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Lilnonames · F

AI

+7
The superstition that Friday the 13th is unlucky has roots in religion, mythology, and history, and has been reinforced by media and popular culture:

Christianity: The Last Supper was attended by 13 people, including Judas, who betrayed Jesus. Jesus was then crucified on a Friday.

Norse mythology: Loki, the 13th god, is associated with chaos and death.

Knights Templar: The Knights Templar were arrested on Friday, October 13, 1307.

The number 13: The number 13 is associated with incompleteness and disorder.

Friday: Friday is traditionally associated with misfortune.

Media and popular culture: Friday the 13th has become a cultural phenomenon, further perpetuated by media and cautionary tales.

The fear of Friday the 13th is known as paraskevidekatriaphobia, and the fear of the number 13 is known as triskaidekaphobia

DrWatson · 70-79, M

@Lilnonames Thanks.

I know a lot of people mention the Last Supper in connection with this, but the Norse mythology explanation is one I find more satisfying. For one, it is presumably older. And also, it is actually guest number 13 who causes trouble, whereas at the Last Supper people aren't exactly numbered.

NativePortlander1970 ·

@Lilnonames All very valid reasons why :)