Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day in many cultures, and over the years, there have been many strange and eerie occurrences that only added to its bad rep. We’ve gathered a few Friday the 13th facts from history that are among the more known ones.
The arrest of the Knights Templar
October 13th, 1307. King Philip IV of France ordered the arrest and execution of the Knights Templar, a powerful and wealthy religious order.
The Black Friday Fires
January 13th, 1939. In Victoria, Australia, years of drought followed by an unnaturally dry summer led to the fire which destroyed around five million acres of land while also killing 7 people.
The bombing of Buckingham Palace
September 13th, 1940. The Germans bombed Buckingham Palace, with the King and Queen still inside. The bombs hit both the palace and its chapel.
The murder of Kitty Genovese
March 13th, 1964. Kitty Genovese, a 28-year old bartender from Queens, New York, was raped and killed by Winston Moseley. He admitted his crime days later when he was booked for an unrelated crime. His reason: he always wanted to kill a woman…
The Andes flight disaster
October 13th, 1972. This is a gruesome story about resilience, doing what you have in order to survive. A plane that was carrying the Uruguayan Rugby team with 45 passengers crashed, leading to the instant death of 12 passengers followed by that of six others after several days. Faced with the harsh reality: no equipment, no food, no water, they resorted to the one thing that could see them out: cannibalism. They survived by eating those who were already dead. Luckily they were found 72 days later, with 16 of them being able to survive until then. If you want to see more about this tragedy, watch the movie Alive (1993) with Ethan Hawke and Josh Hamilton.
Three gruesome murders
April 13th, 1973. After being kicked out by his parents, 21-year old David McGreavy rented a room from the Ralph family. He was the perfect tenant, he used to cook meals for the whole family, which included three small kids, while also babysitting. Things turn horrifyingly wrong one night when Clive Ralph went to pick his wife from work. Having to deal with a crying baby, McGreavy snapped. He killed each of the kids, one by one, and continued the horror show by impaling them on the neighbor’s fence. David strongly denied being the culprit only to admit it when faced with the truth, by saying “It was me, but, it wasn’t me.” He received multiple life sentences only to be paroled in 2018.
Tupac Shakur’s murder
The stock market crash of 1989
October 13th, 1989. The Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced the lowest drop at the time, causing panic among investors. This was also the day that marked the beginning of the 90’s recession.
A 13 year old boy was struck by lightning on Friday the 13th at 13:13
The sinking of the Costa Concordia
January 13th, 2012. The Costa Concordia, a luxury cruise ship, ran aground off the coast of Italy with 3,206 passengers and 1,023 crew members on board. A six-hour rescue mission brought most of the people to safety but unfortunately, 32 people died. A diver that was part of the rescue team gashed his leg while preparing the vessel for removal. He was brought ashore by one of his colleagues but later died.
Back to you. What side are you on when it comes to Friday the 13th? Do you watch your every single step until the clock hits midnight and you’re out of the woods? Or do you ignore it and do the stuff you would usually do? And yes, some people change their behavior when Friday the 13th hits. The USA alone loses around $900 Million just because people avoid going out, traveling, shopping. Do you know of other Friday the 13th facts that are interesting and scary? Share them with us.
And on the subject of Friday the 13th how about some weird horror movies? We’ve got a few that are sure to be bring a few scares.
FAQ
What is the phobia of Friday the 13th?
Fear of Friday the 13th is known as araskavedekatriaphobia. And fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia. Around 20-21 million people could be suffering from triskaidekaphobia.
What should you avoid on Friday the 13th?
It’s best to just do what you normally do on this day and not change your routine. But if you are superstitious and would like to stay on the very safe side then you should avoid black cats, cracks, the number 13, spiders, ladders, umbrellas, priests, new shoe, birds, tables, mirrors, salt, cemeteries and if/when possible just stay indoors all day.
Why is 13 considered unlucky?
In some countries, 13 is associated with bad luck and trouble. Judas, was the 13th guest at the Last Supper. The god Loki was 13th to arrive to a Valhalla feast where he tricked someone into killing the god Baldur.
How many Friday the 13ths will we have in 2023?
2 and one was on January 13. The second is in October.
What happens if you cut your hair on Friday the 13th?
Just to be on the safe side it’s best to cut your hair on another day as this is said to cause the death of someone in your family. Just reschedule the haircut and you will be good.
Why can’t you wear black on Friday the 13th?
It is said that if one wears black on this day then he/she will be wearing it again shortly, at a funeral. Just wear other colors on that day.
