Happy Friday the 13th, y’all!
We all know today is supposed to be unlucky, and there are a few different reasons for this superstition: If you’re Christian you believe that Jesus was killed on a Friday and there were 13 people at the last supper. Another reason, they used to hang people on Fridays, and there are 13 turns on a hangman’s noose. And more recently, Tupac died from his wounds on Friday the 13th, in 1996.
We really can’t deny that some bad shit has happened on this day, but do you know what started this superstition? Many trace the origins back to Medieval Times and the Knights Templar, during the Crusades.
It’s believed that what happened to the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, Jacques de Molay and 60 of his senior knights on Friday, October 13th of 1307 brought on the legend. The Knights Templar were exceedingly wealthy badasses, and practically everyone owed them money; this included the financially challenged king of France.
On this date, King Philip IV of France got together with the Vatican and they decided to accuse the Knights Templar of witchcraft, sacrilege, heresy, and devil worshiping. Thousands of Knights Templar were arrested and horrendously tortured until they confessed on orders given by King Philip IV. After confession, these innocent men were murdered in various ways such as burnt at the stake, beheaded, etc. Then, all of the Knights lands and possessions were seized.
Pretty convenient, eh?
The Last Grand Master of the Knights Templar is said to have cursed the king and those who obeyed his orders; he vowed that from that day forth Friday the 13th would be unlucky, and that’s where the legend originated.
In 2007, the Vatican declared the Knights Templar innocent of their accused crimes.
