Why is Tuesday the 13th considered unlucky in Latin America?

Who hasn’t heard the saying “On Tuesday, don’t get married, don’t embark on a trip, and don’t leave your house”? And even worse if it coincides with Tuesday the 13th, a day considered unlucky in popular tradition, although in some countries the date is moved to Friday the 13th. However, both have a negative connotation.

In the Western world, there are superstitions that have become widespread over time. One of them is that of Tuesday the 13th. Although there are other cases such as crossing a black cat or breaking a mirror, the notion of a day that can bring misfortune is deeply ingrained, even if believers cannot explain why.

The saying that “on Tuesday neither get married nor embark” is a Spanish phrase that reflects in part a superstition typical of Spain and Hispanic countries ( Mexico, Cuba, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador), which is to consider Tuesday the 13th as a day of bad luck and misfortune.

Does Tuesday the 13th bring bad luck?

Its historical origin dates from the earliest days of Christian history and other cultures and disciplines such as Kabbalah, the Nordic Legends, and the Tarot among others.

For Latin America, Spain, and Greece, Tuesday the 13th is related to catastrophic and deadly events, although it is more related to the number.

Tuesday’s association with bad luck is due to the fact that Mars was the Roman god of war, and for this reason, the planet of the same name is considered a land of destruction, blood, and violence. As for the number 13, there are different reasons why it is related to bad luck. In fact, it is a number that appears in legends and tragic events.

For example, there were 13 people present at the Last Supper (12 apostles plus Jesus). There were also 13 evil spirits according to the Jewish Kabbalah and it was in the 13th chapter of the Apocalypse that the antichrist arrived. Also in the tarot, the card associated with death bears the number 13. Finally, a legend says that on Tuesday the 13th is when there was a confusion of languages ​​at the Tower of Babel. In Christian teachings, world languages come as a punishment by God for people trying to build a tower to reach the heavens. When the builders began to speak different languages they were unable to communicate and complete the tower to reach God.

However, the moment when Tuesday the 13th became the day of bad luck was probably the fall of the Roman Empire in Constantinople in May 1453, a fatal event for Christians, which occurred exactly on Tuesday the 13th.

Despite all the negative elements related to this date, for some people, this is a day of good luck, and during that day they bet on that number in games of chance.

But just in case, don’t get married today.

Who hasn't heard the saying "On Tuesday, don't get married, don't embark on a trip, and don't leave your house . . .

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