Double trouble? The moon is full on Friday the 13th

In the night sky on this Friday the 13th will hang a bright full moon—an ominous sign of doubly bad luck? Perhaps.

But having a full moon on Friday the 13th is also a rare event that will happen again in August 2049, Live Science said in a report. The last time it occured was in October 13, 2000.

No one really knows when Friday the 13th became associated with bad luck but the number 13 seems to have a bad reputation across the world.

Some say that the number is just historically "awkward".

According to a Live Science report:

"[S]ome say the number 13 is also considered unlucky because of its place after the number 12. Thirteen is just "a little beyond completeness," Thomas Fernsler, a math and policy scientist at the University of Delaware who also goes by the name Dr. 13, told National Geographic last year. "The number becomes restless or squirmy," Fernsler added.

That's because in numerology, or the study of the symbolism of numbers, 12 is associated with completeness: whole, perfect and harmonious, as seen in the 12 apostles, 12 Olympic Gods, 12 animals in the Chinese horoscope and 12 months in the Gregorian calendar. Thirteen -- by default -- is awkward, ungainly and odd."
 

Friday on its own is also considered unlucky by some Christians.

"The fact that Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus on the Friday before Easter adds to the idea that Fridays are unlucky days. In other biblical origins Eve is believed to have tempted Adam with the forbidden fruit on this day," according a report in The Independent.

Meanwhile, a full moon is considered ominous in itself. Some even think people go crazy when the moon is full.

These, however, are mostly western concepts. In Filipino folklore and mythology, the ideas of Friday the 13th and a full moon being bad luck are pretty much nonexistent.

"I highly doubt there are any (Filipino myths) on Friday the 13th, considering most stories you'd counsider myths predate the arrival of the Gregorian calendar here (in the Philippines)," said Filipino writer Paolo Chikiamco, in a text message to GMA News Online.

The closest myths we have on full moons are "devourers of the moon" stories that attempt to explain the phases and eclipses, he added.

One such story is that of Bakunawa, a dragon-like snake that rises from the sea and eats the sun or the moon. — Kim Luces/JDS, GMA News