Friday the 13th - An unlucky day? (Modern superstition)

Friday the 13th is a well known date in the German speaking culture area. Incessantly, the mass media speculate about its ominous influence and its presumably ancient roots in folk culture. Surprisingly though, no acknowledged tradition to this date can be detected. It is shown that since the early advanced civilizations certain days of the week were linked with a specific symbolism. These links, however, varied from one region to another. In the Occident, Friday became an outstanding date of fasting. It was thus rendered a fateful day in some regions whereas in others it was considered a lucky day. Numbers are highly symbolical as well, but initially the number 13 used to be only of secondary importance. Until the beginning of the 20th century the combination of week-days and number symbolism was generally unknown. It developed in the United States of America from where it was exported to Germany in the middle of the 20th century. Strongly promoted by the mass media, Friday the 13th soon spread itself out and was readily accepted as stemming from ancient origin.