Happy Friday the 13th, spooks!
Friday the 13th has been a part of Western pop culture for decades with the creepy claim that it is an unlucky day. Those who fear black cats crossing their paths or avoid walking beneath ladders consider today to be the most feared day on their calendar and something so much more than a slasher movie.
According to legend, the infamy of the 13th falling on a Friday can be traced back to the Knights Templar and their downfall in France. On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered the French Templars to be rounded up and arrested altogether.
The more innocent claims against them were corruption, fraud, and secrecy. More colorful claims were new recruits being required to spit on the cross and deny Christ. They were also accused of worshipping idols (including that of Baphomet) and a mummified head believed to be that of John the Baptist. Throw all of that in with rumors of homosexual practices during rituals and no one thought twice about throwing them in jail. Under torture, many Knights admitted to all of these accusations successfully bringing about the beginning of the end of the Knights Templar.
Of course, the fall of the Knights Templar and the connection to Friday the 13th is considered by many to be a newer development. The fear of the date never really caught on until the 19th century and only really took off in the 20th century.
But it’s fun to think that secret societies, pagan gods, and torture had at least something to do with Friday the 13th.
If you own a haunted bar, cafe, hotel, or restaurant and you’d like us to check it out, reach out to us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. If you have a favorite haunted hot spot with great food and atmosphere and you’d like to share it with us, hit us up on social media or leave a comment below! We’d love to hear from you… Thanks for joining us, and Happy Haunting!
spookeats.com 
Leave a Reply