Friday the 13th has ties to the Bible and Christianity

Friday the 13th: The origin

The origin of Friday the 13th is not really known. Stories about bad luck on this date come from different cultures. In 2026, the 13th of three different months falls on a Friday. They are February, March, and November.

On this date, some will avoid black cats, stepping under ladders, looking in mirrors, or take other precautions to prevent bad luck, but how did this fear originate? Where did the notion come from that mishaps happen when the 13th day of a month is on a Friday?

This article reveals the Biblical and Christian traditions surrounding the date that many dread. Does scripture tell us anything specific about the sixth day of the week? Let's take a look at what has been written.

What the Bible reveals

Genesis chapter 1 reveals that God created the earth in six days and on the seventh, He rested. On Friday, He spoke into being the creatures of the sea, including fish and other marine life, along with the birds of the air.

On the sixth day, the Lord established the ecosystems for both sea and sky. This concluded His creation, and He said it was good. On Saturday, the Sabbath was established, and He rested.

This is the only specific mention of the sixth day, and there is no reference to Friday the 13th. Why do some believe this perceived day of bad luck has ties to the Bible? Possibly because of folklore passed down for generations.

Unsubstantiated theories about Friday and 13

Friday is supposed to be the day that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, bringing sin into the world.

The sixth day of the week is also said to be the day Cain murdered Abel, the day the Great Flood of Noah began, and the day the Temple of Solomon was destroyed. There is no evidence these things are true, but the legends persist.

The number 13 is considered unlucky by some people of faith because in Genesis 14:4 it is associated with a rebellion. Friday the 13th was considered unlucky by some because on October 13, 1307, (a Friday). King Phillip of France ordered the torture and murder of hundreds of members of the Christian crusaders, the Knights Templar.

In Christianity, the number 13 is considered unlucky because it follows 12, the number of God's governmental authority. There were 12 sons of Jacob, 12 tribes of Israel, and 12 disciples of Jesus. There are also 12 months in the year.

The Last Supper connection to Friday the 13th

The most prevalent belief about the number 13 is related to the Last Supper when Jesus and His 12 disciples were eating in an upper room. Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ, was considered the 13th guest at the table.

Judas hung himself the following day, and it's believed in some faith circles that his suicide cursed Friday and the number 13. The crucifixion, which was on what in some traditions is considered Good Friday, is often described as being an unlucky, sorrowful day because Jesus died.

For anyone wondering if the crucifixion could have been on Friday the 13th, there is no way to know for certain. Anyone who could tell us has long been dead. Historians, however, say Jesus was crucified on the 14th of Nisan, which (in their calculations) would have been April 7, 30 AD, or April 3, 33 AD.

As a side note, some modern scholars say Jesus was not crucified on a Friday but on Wednesday or Thursday. Be that as it may, you have just read the folklore associated with the Bible, Christianity, and Friday the 13th.