why is 13 unlucky

The number 13 is considered unlucky due to a combination of historical, religious, and cultural reasons. In Norse mythology, the god Loki was the 13th guest at a banquet of 12 gods and caused chaos and tragedy. In Christianity, Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th guest at the Last Supper before Jesus's crucifixion. The number 12 is often seen as a symbol of completeness (such as 12 months, 12 apostles), so 13 disrupts this harmony. These associations have led to the superstition that 13 is unlucky, which is reflected in architecture (skipping the 13th floor), social customs (avoiding 13 guests at a dinner table), and popular culture, including the fear of Friday the 13th known as paraskevidekatriaphobia.