Tomorrow is Friday the 13th, a date that many people look at with fear. The day is considered unlucky by many, and some even have a specific phobia about it, known as paraskavedekatriaphobia or friggatriskaidekaphobia. Reports suggest that the fear of Friday the 13th causes businesses to lose an estimated $900 million every time it occurs, as people avoid traveling, planning important events, or even going to work.

Friday the 13th History

The roots of this fear are not entirely clear. In Western culture, the number 13 is often seen as an unlucky number, unlike the number 12, which symbolizes completeness, with examples including the 12 months of the year and the 12 signs of the zodiac. According to HISTORY, there is a myth that traces the fear back to an early version of the Code of Hammurabi, in which the 13th law was allegedly omitted. However, this was later found to be a translator’s error.

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Biblical Tradition and Norse Mythology on Friday the 13th

Biblical tradition also plays a role. There were 13 guests at the Last Supper, and Jesus was crucified the next day, a Friday. Charles Panati, in his book “Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things,” draws a connection between superstition and Norse mythology. In one story, Loki, the god of mischief, disrupted a banquet, leading to chaos and the death of Balder, the god of light.

Not all cultures consider Friday the 13th to be an unlucky day. In Spain, people consider Tuesday the 13th to be more dangerous. Brian Handwerk for National Geographic writes, “In Spain, Friday the 13th is not a reason to panic, but Tuesday the 13th is the most dangerous date of the year.” Italians also fear the 17th because of its association with the Roman numeral XVII, which can be rearranged to “VIXI,” which means “my life is over” in Latin.

Read more: Friday the 13th memes are taking the internet by storm While the fear surrounding this date causes widespread anxiety, it’s important to remember that these superstitions vary by culture and often have a historical background.