The Chilling Origins of Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th, a day that sounds ominous and chilling by name alone, symbolizes horror and frequently serves as the subject of horror films, games, and webtoons. Let’s explore the origins and legends of Friday the 13th.

The 13th comes around every month and is not ordinarily a special day, but it is a different story when it falls on a Friday. What are the origins of the belief that “Friday the 13th” is unlucky? In Korea and other parts of Asia, the number 4, rather than 13, traditionally symbolizes bad luck because its pronunciation resembles the word for death. With the influx of Western culture, however, Friday the 13th has also become something to fear here. One theory traces its ominous reputation to Jesus having his last meal with 13 disciples before being crucified and killed. A key part of this theory is that Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th person to enter. Various other theories claim that the Buddha died on the 13th, that an ancient Roman emperor executed prisoners on that date, or that it was a day when witches held feasts. In Italy in 1987, computers were infected by the Friday the 13th virus, and the virus also caused a major stir in Korea, where it spread under the name “Jesus virus.” These are all merely hypotheses, however, so it is better to regard them as a bit of amusement amid the monotony of everyday life rather than take them too seriously.

[FamTimes = Reporter Kim Jae-young]