For many, Friday the 13th is considered a bad day, but not for Italians. While in much of the Western world the date is seen as an omen of bad luck, in Italy, this day goes unnoticed — Friday the 17th, on the other hand, can be a cause for concern.
When Friday the 13th arrives, Brazilians think twice before taking risks at important events or even weddings. But, if you are in Italy, you can rest assured: there, the number 13 is actually considered a sign of luck.
While the concept of “unlucky 13” is not entirely unknown in the country — thanks to the influence of American movies and TV shows — Italian tradition does not view it as something negative. On the contrary, for Italians, the number 13 is often associated with good luck.
However, number 17 is the real villain in Italian superstitions. Friday the 17th is the day to avoid, the equivalent of the dreaded 13th in other cultures.
Just as some airlines avoid row 13 on planes, you may notice the absence of the number 17 on planes, buildings, streets and even hotel floors in Italy. Even if you’re not superstitious, it’s worth keeping an eye out.
The reason for the fear of the number 17 dates back to Ancient Rome. In Roman numerals, 17 is written as XVII, an anagram of the Latin word "VIXI," which means "vivi," that is, something in the past, indicating death and, consequently, bad luck.
Friday, on the other hand, has a bad reputation in most of the world due to biblical traditions. It is believed that it was on a Friday that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, that Cain killed Abel and that the Great Flood. In other words, in the Christian tradition, a lot went wrong on a Friday.
So don't be surprised if, next Friday the 17th, you find Italian shops and offices closed for good luck —that good old superstition.
But why then does the number 13 have a positive connotation in Italy? The answer lies in football.
Have you ever heard of Totocalcium? This is an old betting system in which players tried to predict the outcome of 13 football matches. Whoever guessed all the games correctly would triumphantly exclaim: “I'm done!” (I turned thirteen!), celebrating his luck. The expression became so popular that it began to be used in other contexts to mean a stroke of luck or a big win.
Since 2004, the number of Totocalcio games has risen to 14, but “ho fatto tredici” can still be heard among the winners, keeping the tradition alive.
Other common superstitions in Italy include touching iron (not wood) to ward off bad luck, never toasting with a glass of water, and avoiding serving wine with the left hand.
While the world fears Friday the 13th, Italians go about their lives as normal — until Friday the 17th arrives, of course. (Depositphotos)
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