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Friday, the thirteenth: 13 gratifying events
It is considered an accident day. But it doesn’t always happen on Friday, the 13th, a look back at pleasant things that have occurred to the supposed date of misfortune.
June 13th is a Friday – the only Friday, the 13th this year. An accident day?
The superstition is widespread in the western world. According to Christian tradition, Adam and Eva are said to have been emitted from paradise on a Friday and nailed the Romans Jesus Christ on the cross.
The number in turn owes its sometimes bad reputation to a certain extent of the 12, which stands for perfection and harmony. The 13 is therefore considered surplus and inharmonious.
But over the years there have been some very nice events on the notorious Fridays. Here are 13 examples.
On October 13, 2023, “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” starts in the cinemas. And not without reason. The singer herself says 13 is her favorite number. Her birthday is also a 13th, namely December 13, 1989. For Taylor Swift, Friday, the 13th, has absolutely nothing to do with bad luck. The film is the most successful concert film ever.
13 million euros in money
On August 13, 2010, a Frenchman wins 13 million euros. The winner actually taps six correct ones in the French lottery. According to surveys, more people play the lottery on these alleged accident days than usual.
On November 13, 2009, the American Space Authority Nasa discovered water on the moon. By analyzing samples from a moon crater, NASA can indicate water occurrences. Before that, there had only been vague assumptions.
On August 13, 2004, the Olympic Games start in Greece – where they originated. The gold medalists at that time consider Friday, the 13th certainly not a bad omen.
Super Mario Bros. appears
September 13, 1985: A lucky day for all gaming fans. In Japan, “Super Mario Bros.” published. There are now around 200 games with Mario – which has long been world famous outside the scene.
On December 13, 1974, the island of Malta officially became its own republic. The country has been independent of the British since 1964, but the British queen was still head of state – until Friday, December 13, 1974.
On February 13, 1968, a human heart was transplanted for the first time in the Federal Republic. A team led by the doctor Rudolf Zenker in Munich – a medical breakthrough. However, the patient only survives with the new heart for a few hours.
Gender equality in the United States
In the United States, there were already regulations that prohibited discrimination on the basis of skin color, religion or origin among private and state employers. On October 13, 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson expressly expanded these regulations with a ban on discrimination based on gender in the awarding of state jobs. A happy Friday for gender justice!
October 13, 1939 is an uplifting day – literally. The American Evelyn Pinckert Brier, called “Pinky”, is a pilot. On Friday, she is the first woman in the history of the Civil Air Authority as a flight instructor. It flies and teaches flying into old age.
On July 13, 1923, researcher Roy Chapman Andrews discovered something spectacular in Mongolia: petrified dinosaur eggs. Originally, Andrews was probably looking for human remains – and comes across fossils of significantly older living beings.
Everyone knows him, he symbolizes the film industry like no other landmark: the Hollywood lettering. The famous letters were first set up on July 13, 1923. There was originally “Hollywoodland”. When everything is ailing, the last four letters are removed and only “Hollywood” is restored and left.
The birth of heavy metal
Even if the music is not for everyone: Heavy Metal belongs to the music landscape. On February 13, 1970, the band Black Sabbath released their debut album. For many, this is the birth of the heavy metal. The band chose Friday, the 13th.
A lot of people were born on a Friday, the 13th. Would you like a famous example? Here are several: Fidel Castro, the controversial Cuban revolutionary was born on August 13, 1926. The actress and producer Julia Louis-Dreyfus was born on January 13, 1961. Another actress, Kat Denings, known from the “2 Broke Girls” series, also joins in. Her birthday was Friday, June 13, 1986. And a German celebrity was born on a Friday: Sarah Connor’s date of birth is June 13, 1980.
And if someone is still afraid of Friday, the 13th – it is the only one this year. The rest of 2025 runs without any further “accident days”.
dpa
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
