While students are going about their normal day there are few who are on high alert because of today’s unlucky date, Fri., April the 13. It is common knowledge that opening an umbrella indoors or seeing a black cat are superstitious signs for bad luck, but the agreeably most known of these is Fri. the 13. The day even has its own term for the fear of it known as Paraskavedekatriaphobia or Friggatriskaidekaphobia. The original origin of the superstition behind the day is unknown but there are events in history that support the idea of Fri. the 13 or the number’s unluckiness by itself.
Further back in history, the superstition can be seen in, The Code of Hammurabi, which was created around 1754 BC. This book included the Babylonian code of law in ancient Mesopotamia. Each law corresponds to a number except number 13 which was left out. This is seen as a simple error while other superstitious people think this error relates to the bad luck of 13. Other conspiracies behind the date relating to the Bible. Within the religion, people believe the first people on Earth were Adam and Eve. The day Eve gave Adam an apple from the Tree of Knowledge which created sin is believe to have taken place on Fri. During the last supper, 13 people were present including Judas who betrayed Jesus leading to his crucifixion the following day known as Good Fri. These events on Fri. and the number of people at the Last Supper where Jesus was betrayed lead people to think of these days as unlucky.
The Thirteenth Club was founded by New Yorker Captain William Fowler with the goal of ending the superstition behind the number 13. In the club, Fowler and a group would meet on the 13thday of every month in the 13throom of Knickerbocker Cottage for a 13-course dinner.
Today, the conspiracy is more commonly known by the horror movie titled, Friday the 13, released in 1980. The whole movie is based on a fictional killer named Jason who wears a hockey mask. The movie’s popularity caused many more films including Jason as well as Halloween costumes. The history behind the date and its superstition cause people to believe in the unlucky day but there are few who do not believe in the conspiracy.
“I’ve never seen anything spooky happen on Fri. the 13 in all the times it has happened in my lifetime so it’s luster has kind of been lost to me,” senior Nolan Cridge said. “I used to be a little terrified when I was younger but now it’s more of just a meme for me.”
Though the history and popularity of the conspiracy are convincing to some, the other portion of the people believes it is just a hoax or an unbelievable conspiracy. Whichever side people choose is up to their beliefs and superstition.
