In Portugal...
As in many other places in the world, Fridays 13 are associated with superstitions and popular folklore. Although Friday the 13th does not have such an intense negative connotation as in some other countries, it is still considered a day of bad luck by some people in Portugal.
Superstition towards Friday the 13th mainly involves fear of bad luck and unfortunate events. Many Portuguese avoid making important decisions, travelling, getting married, or taking actions that may be considered risky on that day. This is due to the fact that the combination of Friday, historically seen as a day of bad luck, with the number 13, which is also considered superstitious in many cultures, creates a sense of apprehension.
However, it is noteworthy that the belief on Friday the 13th varies from person to person, and many modern Portuguese do not take this superstition seriously. Many events and activities usually take place on that day, and some people even organise theme parties on Friday the 13th as a way to celebrate the folklore and popular culture associated with this date.
Portugal has its own traditions and superstitions in relation to number 13, which can also be reflected on Friday the 13th. For example, the number 13 is believed to bring bad luck to guests, and some people avoid sitting 13 at the table during important meals.
In summary, Fridays 13 in Portugal are generally seen as a day of superstition and bad luck for some people, but this belief is not universal and many Portuguese do not take it seriously. It is an integral part of the country's folklore and popular traditions.
Fridays, 13: calendar from 2020 to 2030
In 2023, there will be two Fridays 13: in January and in October.
Next Friday, August 13 will take place in 2027.
The junction of the 13th and Friday occurs whenever Sunday is the first day of the month.
Check below when and how many Fridays will occur between 2020 and 2030:
What does Friday, 13 mean?
Friday the 13th is known as a day of bad luck and has very old origins.
For this reason, there are people who get scared every Friday the 13th. They imagine that something bad can happen and, therefore, prefer to protect themselves and avoid crossing with black cats, breaking mirrors, passing under stairs and other beliefs that "give bad luck".
There are several stories that can justify why Friday thirteen is so feared. Let's see some.
Persecution and death of Jesus: According to reports, Jesus would have met with the 12 apostles on a Thursday for a dinner, for a total of 13 people. One of these people was Judas Iscariot, the traitor to Christ, because he gave him to the soldiers. It is considered the 13th.º
The day that followed, when the persecution and crucifixion of Jesus took place, would have been a Friday. Today, the date is known as Good Friday.
13 is the "mark of the beast": Number 13 is indicated as the "mark of the beast" in the Book of the Apocalypse. It is also seen as an "imperfect" number, compared to the number 12, which appears in biblical references (12 apostles and the 12 tribes of Israel, for example).
The day in Adam ate the forbidden fruit: Adam and Eve would have eaten the forbidden apple, the fruit of knowledge, on a Friday.
The day in Cain killed Abel: It was on a Friday that Cain would have killed his brother Abel.
Death of the God Balder: In Nordic mythology, it is said that a banquet was once organised, in which 12 gods were present, and Loki, the god of discord, was not invited.
But Loki heard about that dinner and decided to show up without warning. He would have set up a great conflict, which in the end ended with the death of one of the most beloved gods, Balder.
Meetings promoted by the witch Frigga: Frigga, the goddess of love and beauty would have been transformed into a witch when Christianity dominated the region and converted the Nordic peoples.
As a way to get revenge, Frigga began to organise meetings every Friday with 11 other witches and also with the devil. In these meetings, the 13 creatures prayed to humanity. Frigga is also responsible for the origin of friday, an English word that means Friday.
Historical events that occurred on Friday, 13
Get to know now some events that took place on Friday the 13th and that contributed to the date being rejected.
October 13, 1307: On that day, King Philip IV ordered the persecution of the Templars. Everything happened after the king realised that the Catholic Church was taking the power of his kingdom. Thus, he tried to join the religious group of Knights Templar.
As the group did not accept him, Philip IV was taken with anger, ordering the persecution of the members of the religious order. Many Templars were incarcerated and suffered tortures such as those employed in the Inquisition.
January 13, 1939: There was a terrible fire that killed more than 70 people in Australia. It is considered the biggest fire in the history of this country.
December 13, 1968:The military government in Brazil decreed the AI5, an institutional act that removed the rights of the Brazilian people and allowed several tortures and murders to occur.
October 13, 1972: The plane that took the Uruguayan rugby team crashed in the Andes. The tragedy gave rise to the book Survivors: The Tragedy of the Andes, and the 1993 film Alive.
Other interpretations for number 13
Despite all these stories about Friday and number 13, in many cultures the beliefs are quite different.
In numerology, for example, 13 is associated with the number 4 (due to the sum of its digits, 1+3), and this is a number of luck and harmony.
For the ancient Egyptians, 13 is also related to eternal life.
In the game of tarot, this number is related to death, through the Arcane 13 card. However, for ancient cultures, death is not necessarily something negative, as it can be interpreted as a turning point, a great transformation.
Therefore, this tarot card also has the symbolism of rebirth.
Source: Calendarr