The History of Friday 13th and Its Symbolism

Friday the 13th, often shrouded in superstition and unease, traces its connection to witchcraft through both ancient tradition and modern understanding. At the heart of this link lies the number 13, long cast as unlucky in Western cultures. Yet, the suspicion surrounding it belies its deeper, older association with the rhythms of the moon. With 13 lunar cycles marking the year, many ancient cultures, including those who practiced the craft, saw the number as a reflection of the moon’s power—mysterious, watery, Yin-based, and deeply sacred. Witches revered 13 as a symbol of fertility and magic, bound to the ebb and flow of the moon, and thus, to the unseen forces of nature.