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Avoid beginning a journey or travel on a Tuesday, as it is considered unlucky.

Why Starting a Journey on Tuesday Is Considered Unlucky

Details

This superstition cautions against initiating any form of travel or journey on a Tuesday. In regions such as Greece and parts of Southern Europe, Tuesday is closely associated with conflict and disruption due to its connection with the god Ares, the deity of war. Believers of this superstition see traveling on Tuesday as inviting strife, delays, or failure. In India, certain linguistic communities also avoid travel on Tuesdays, associating the day with Mars (Mangal), a planet connected with aggression and accidents in astrology. Practitioners may delay trips to avoid setting out on this specific day, sometimes planning journeys to begin a day earlier or later. Though primarily oral in nature, this superstition is kept alive through familial teachings and regional cultural practices.

Historical Context

The origin of this superstition can be traced to ancient Greek and Roman mythology, particularly the planet Mars (Ares in Greek mythology), after whom Tuesday is named in many Romance languages (e.g., Martes in Spanish, Mardi in French). Mars/Ares is the god of war, and Tuesday was considered a day of aggression, imbalance, and ill fortune. In Greek tradition, Tuesday the 13th—not Friday—is deemed the most unlucky. The Fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans happened on a Tuesday (May 29, 1453), further cementing this belief in Greek folklore. In Hindu astrology as well, Tuesday is ruled by the planet Mars (Mangal), symbolizing fire, blood, and violence. Travel or major ventures on this day are believed to attract misfortune unless specific rituals are performed to offset potential harm.

Modern Relevance

While the superstition is less commonly observed in urbanized and secular societies, it remains influential in some rural or traditionally observant regions. In Greece, many elders still hesitate to marry, launch businesses, or travel on a Tuesday, particularly if it falls on the 13th. Similarly, Hindus in India may avoid scheduling surgeries or travel on Tuesdays unless religious remedies are performed. In modern astrology and wellness circles, planetary influences continue to affect scheduling of events, and Mars’ association with aggression leads some individuals to avoid travel on Tuesdays. On social media platforms that focus on spiritual alignment or Vedic astrology, the Tuesday travel superstition is often discussed or shared as guidance. Nonetheless, in most of the Western world, this belief has largely faded or been replaced by other superstitions, such as avoiding travel on Friday the 13th.

Sources

Dunwich, Gerina. A Witch’s Guide to Ghosts and the Supernatural. Citadel Press, 2002.

Quick Facts

Historical Period

Ancient Greece

Practice Type

Preventive Action

Classification

Bad Luck Superstition

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