In many Western cultures, the number 13 is considered unlucky. This tradition originated centuries ago and continues to influence superstitions today. However, views on the number 13 vary between different cultures and regions. So what do Italians think about this mysterious number? Is 13 a harbinger of bad luck or a bearer of good fortune in Italy?
The Origins of 13 Being Unlucky
The negative associations with 13 have obscure origins in ancient history. Some possible origins include:
- In Christianity, 13 guests attended the Last Supper, after which Jesus was betrayed by Judas (the 13th guest)
- Ancient Babylonian Code of Hammurabi omitted 13 in its list of laws
- In Norse mythology, misfortune ensued when Loki the trickster god crashed a banquet as the uninvited 13th guest
By the Middle Ages, these influences had converged to solidify 13 as an ominous number in many European belief systems. The fear became so widespread that it even acquired its own name – triskaidekaphobia.
13 and Bad Luck in Italy
Italy did not escape the spread of triskaidekaphobia across medieval Europe. Italian culture has a long history of superstitions, and the number 13 was no exception. Some examples of Italian superstitions around 13 include:
- Belief that 13 people sitting together at a table would result in the death of one person within the year
- Avoiding buying or selling property that bore the house number 13
- Considering Friday the 13th an unlucky day, as it combined two negative omens (Friday & 13)
However, Italy did not embrace triskaidekaphobia as wholeheartedly as other European nations. While many Italians held private superstitions about 13, it did not achieve the same cultural taboo status.
The Italian Resistance to 13’s Bad Luck
Several factors helped Italians resist the bad luck stigma of 13:
- Positive 13 Associations – Some parts of Italian culture associated 13 with good luck, such as in Cola di Rienzo’s prophesies during the medieval era.
- Religious Skepticism – Italians were generally less swayed by the Last Supper origins due to skepticism of the clergy during the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
- Cultural Pride – Italians had a strong sense of cultural identity that rejected foreign superstitions not native to Italy.
While Italians maintained some negative folklore about 13, these influences prevented it from being demonized to the same extent as elsewhere in Europe.
13 Today in Italy
What is 13’s reputation in contemporary Italian culture? Some key points:
- Italians still occasionally consider Friday the 13th to be an unlucky day to undertake important tasks like weddings or traveling.
- Superstitions around 13 guests at a table have largely faded, though some old-fashioned Italians still joke about it.
- Hotels and hospitals in Italy often have floors or rooms skipped from 12 to 14, showing lingering unease with the number’s associations.
- 13 is not fully shunned in Italy – for example, Italian soccer player Gianluigi Buffon embraced 13 as his jersey number.
In summary, while Italy did not embrace 13 to the extent of truly demonizing it, some residual bad luck folklore remains. But overall, 13 maintains a more neutral reputation in Italian culture compared to other European nations.
The Italian Lottery and 13
An interesting modern example is Italy’s lottery system. The Italian lottery has tiers of prizes, with the highest prize tier named “Tier 1”. However, this top prize tier is actually the 13th tier in the full lottery system. So in the Italian lottery, 13 is considered the luckiest number that signifies the highest potential winnings.
This lottery system developed relatively recently in the 20th century. Having the top prize associated with 13 appears to have been an intentional choice to defy traditional Italian superstitions against the number. It shows that any lingering triskaidekaphobia in Italy is fading, and 13 may even be considered auspicious in some modern contexts.
Surveys: Do Italians Still Fear 13?
Some recent surveys have tried to quantify Italian attitudes toward 13 today:
- A 2019 survey found only 13% of Italians consider 13 to be an unlucky number.
- However, 61% of Italians admitted to having some superstition around numbers, including 13.
- A 2021 survey found 20% of Italians view Friday the 13th as a day of bad luck.
These surveys confirm 13’s reputation is much milder in Italy compared to many other Western nations. While some Italians maintain a superstitious wariness of 13, most do not actively avoid the number as a harbinger of misfortune.
13 in Italian Culture and Language
There are also some positive meanings associated with 13 in the Italian language and culture:
- Expressions like “buon tredici” are used to wish someone good luck on the 13th of the month.
- The Italian phrase “fare tredici” means “to hit the jackpot”.
- A 13-year-old child’s coming of age is celebrated as a positive moment with the “festa dei tredicenni” party.
So while Italy retains some traces of triskaidekaphobia, there are also positive linguistic associations with 13 woven into the cultural fabric.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Italians have an ambivalent relationship with 13. While some remnants of triskaidekaphobia remain, Italians never fully demonized the number to the extent of other Western cultures. 13 is more likely to be met with mild superstition or humor in Italy, rather than being shunned outright as deeply sinister or unlucky. With Italian culture constantly evolving, attitudes toward 13 may continue to shift toward more positive associations in the future.