Today is Tuesday the 13th, a date that sends shivers down the spines of many Greeks who consider it particularly unlucky. Unlike the Western superstition surrounding Friday the 13th, in Greece—and in Spanish-speaking countries—Tuesday is viewed with a sense of foreboding. But what lies behind these deep-rooted superstitions?
The Fall of Constantinople
Greek tradition links the superstition around Tuesday the 13th to a dark chapter in history: the Fall of Constantinople. It was on a Tuesday that the city fell into the hands of the Ottoman Turks, marking a turning point that many Greeks remember with sorrow.
Even the sum of the digits of the year 1453 (1+4+5+3) equals 13, further cementing its connection with bad luck. Historical records mention this superstition as far back as 1164.
Spanish-Speaking Countries and Greek Tradition
For Spanish-speaking communities and Greeks, Tuesday is considered unlucky, and even more so when it falls on the 13th. A Spanish proverb warns, “En martes, ni te cases ni te embarques” (“On Tuesday, don’t marry or travel”), highlighting the belief in misfortune.
In Greek culture, many avoid engagements, new jobs, or travel on this day, while it’s also seen as ideal for magic rituals due to its mystical reputation.
The “Perfect-Sacred” Number and the Disruption of 13
The number 13 is widely regarded as a breaker of perfection. In various mythologies and religions, the number 12 symbolizes harmony and completeness: the 12 Gods of Olympus, the 12 Labors of Hercules, the 12 Tribes of Israel, the 12 Apostles of Jesus, the 12 months of the year, and even the 12 Imams in Islam.
The addition of one more—13—represents chaos and imbalance. In Christian tradition, the 13th chapter of Revelation speaks of the Antichrist and the Beast, symbols of evil. Even in tarot, the card marked with the number 13 represents death.
The Most Popular Explanation
Folklore professor Minas Alexiadis has explained that the superstition around the number 13 likely stems from Roman times. Greeks and Romans used a lunar calendar that required an extra 13th month every few years to align with the solar year.
This added month, often placed in February—a time associated with death rituals—was seen as unnatural and unlucky. Although Julius Caesar’s calendar reform later removed the 13th month, the fear of the number persisted.
Friday the 13th: The Western Counterpart
Outside of Greece and Spanish-speaking countries, Friday the 13th is considered unlucky. This belief grew in English-speaking regions during the 19th century and became global after the 1980 horror film Friday the 13th. In 1988, the superstition even inspired a computer virus in Israel that activated on that date, slowing down affected systems.
