It is a well-known fact that Friday the 13th is said to be the most unfortunate day for almost the entire English-speaking world, but also for many other countries known for superstition. The date is horrible, so much so that in 1980 a horror film was aired with the title "13". In Spain, however, it is a little different. In fact, the date that strikes the most superstition among Spanish people is actually Tuesday the 13th. But what is the origin of this superstition and why do Spaniards fear this date?
Tuesday 13: Number 13
Many people around the world consider the number 13 to be unlucky, and even some airlines do not include it in their serial numbers. It is not known exactly why, but the number 13 has a negative connotation in different religions and cultures.
For example, in Christendom, during the Last Supper, there were twelve apostles and Jesus. Judas is considered to be the 13th unlucky guest at the dinner after he betrayed Jesus, leading him to the crucifixion. In the Bible, the Book of Revelation, or Apocalypse, connects Chapter 13 with the Antichrist, adding a negative connotation to this number.
The number also has a negative presence in other faiths, such as Kabalah, where there are 13 malevolent spirits. In Scandinavian mythology, Loki, the God of Evil, was the 13th guest of dinner at Valhalla.
Tuesday 13: Why Tuesday?
Days of the week in Spanish have their roots in Roman mythology and the planets. The word for Tuesday, Tuesday, comes from the planet Mars, called "Lord of War". So for many Spaniards, Tuesday is associated with war, death, destruction, bloodshed, and violence.
In addition, historically, Tuesday can be considered an unlucky day. On Tuesday, May 19, 1453, the old city of Constantinople was captured by the Ottoman Army, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire. This was a great loss for Christianity, and since then, Tuesday has evolved to be considered an unfortunate day. Elsewhere in history, according to legend, it was the 13th Tuesday that brought the fragmentation of languages, known as the "confusion of languages", as a result of the construction of the Tower of Babel. The Tower of Babel finds its place in many religions and cultures and may be one of the reasons why Tuesday the 13th is considered to be so superstitious in Spain.
Now that you know about this unfortunate day, be sure to take care: as the Spaniards say " en martes, ni te cases, ni embarques ni de tu casa te apartes ", which means on Tuesday you neither marry nor take responsibility, nor leave the house. ”
