The curse that shaped Friday the 13th's unlucky reputation
Friday the 13th appears at least once a year on the calendar. It has gained a reputation as the unluckiest day of the year. But what is the source of this belief?
The superstition related to Friday the 13th began with events from the 14th century. On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France issued an order to arrest the Templars. Seven years later, the last Grand Master of the order, Jacques de Molay, just before his execution at the stake, cursed the monarch and Pope Clement V.
Pope Clement, King Philip! Before the year is out, we will meet at God's judgment - Jacques de Molay was said to have declared, dying on March 18, 1314.
Though hard to believe, the curse "came true." Neither the Pope nor the King lived for a year after these words were spoken.
The Pope died of bacterial dysentery just a month after Jacques de Molay's death. Some sources suggest that Clement V was poisoned by a monk who laced his wine with poison. Legend has it that the Pope's body, lying on a catafalque, was cremated by lightning that entered through an open window.
King Philip IV also did not live long after the curse was cast. His death occurred on November 29, 1314, most likely due to a brain hemorrhage.
The superstition about "cursed" Friday the 13th has survived to this day. According to superstitions, on this day, one should avoid travelling, signing contracts, or starting new projects. The belief that if something could go wrong, it will definitely happen on Friday the 13th has endured.
Friday the 13th is considered unlucky in many countries. Regardless of the reasons for this superstition, the sight of this date on the calendar evokes a strange feeling, even though it is just another Friday like any other. In a single calendar year, Friday the 13th can occur from one to three times.
Anglo-Saxon countries and most of Europe attach great importance to the "unlucky" date. Many buildings in our country or the US do not have a 13th floor, and the airports do not have a 13th gate. Exceptions include Greece, Romania, and Spain, where Tuesday is unlucky.
