In Italy, Friday 17 is seen as an unlucky day. Unlike countries that fear Friday the 13th, such as Brazil, Italians consider the number 17 to be especially unlucky.
The origin of this belief dates back to Ancient Rome. When written in Roman numerals, XVII is an anagram of the Latin word "VIXI," which means "I lived." For the Romans, this suggested death or the end of life.
Another possible reason comes from Pythagorean philosophy. Followers of Pythagoras considered the number 17 imperfect, as it is between the numbers 16 and 18, which they considered harmonious.
Furthermore, the day of the week also contributes to the bad reputation. Friday is associated with negative biblical events, such as the original sin of Adam and Eve and the murder of Abel by Cain.
In practice, many Italians avoid holding important events on this date. It is common for meetings, weddings or launches to be postponed. Some even take the day off as a precaution.
Interestingly, the number 17 is so feared that it is omitted from hotels, airplanes and even street numbers. This reflects the cultural impact of superstition on everyday life in the country.
So if you visit the Italy On a Friday the 17th, don't be surprised to find stores closed or schedules changed. For the superstitious, prevention is better than cure.
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