Where did Friday the 13th come from? Here's some theories

Happy Friday the 13th everyone! While it's not an officially celebrated holiday, there's a still a great deal of history and rumors about what the day actually means.

In case you were wondering, if Friday the 13 scares you, you’re suffering from Paraskevidekatriaphobia, an extension of triskaidekaphobia, a superstitious fear of the number 13. So why is this day considered unlucky?

For instance, some say it’s because Judas, the betrayer of Jesus, was the 13 guest to be seated at the Last Supper, and then it was on a Friday that Jesus was crucified.

Others say it’s because you need 13 witches to form a coven.

And then some point to Geoffrey Chaucer writing, “And on a Friday fell all this mischance" in his Canterbury Tales.

Still others say it was the day Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge, but we’re not familiar with any reference to God letting there be a calendar in Genesis.

The last time we had a Friday the 13th was in January and there won't be any more this year.

Whatever. TGIF, even if it’s the 13^th.

This story was originally published January 13, 2017 at 10:46 AM with the headline "Where did Friday the 13th come from? Here's some theories."