In traditional folk culture, money was surrounded by special care and caution: it was not only safeguarded but also 'protected' from unlucky moments of transfer. A whole layer of everyday beliefs formed around loans and borrowing, according to which an improper choice of day or time could turn into a loss of prosperity. That is why our ancestors tried not to lend money on certain days of the week and under certain circumstances, believing that along with the banknotes, the financial luck itself might leave the house.
Monday, Tuesday and Friday: 'Unlucky' Days for Loans
Most often, folk superstitions warn specifically against Monday. It was believed that at the start of a new week it was better not to let money out of the house, because together with it one could 'give away' one's own prosperity, which was only beginning to form in the new weekly cycle. Tuesday and Friday are also counted among the unfavorable days for loans in folk beliefs. In some traditions, Friday was perceived as a day when financial matters were better neither started nor finished, so as not to 'set in motion' a loss for the following week.
The Last Day of the Month and Time of Day
A separate superstition concerns the last day of the month: our ancestors associated it with the end of one financial cycle, so they tried not to lend money precisely at this moment. It was believed that after such a loan, the funds might 'leave' the house for a long time and not return. No less important than the day was the time of day: lending or returning money after sunset was traditionally discouraged, on the assumption that in the evening, together with the money, the financial luck could be carried out of the house. Therefore, monetary matters were, whenever possible, tried to be completed before darkness fell.
Everyday Taboos: The Last Money, a Birthday and a Departure
There were also very specific everyday taboos. According to one superstition, one should not lend money if it is the last means remaining at home: even if a person asks for very little, it was believed that afterwards one could end up without money oneself. Another lesser-known superstition concerns the birthday of one of the family members — in the folk tradition it was advised not to lend money on such a day, especially if it was a child's birthday, on the assumption that together with the money one could give away a part of the whole family's well-being. It was also discouraged to lend money on the day when one of the close ones sets off on a long journey: any important transfer of things was tried not to be combined with a family member's departure.
Contradictory Data
In different sources and traditions, folk beliefs about the 'lucky' day for financial matters differ significantly. In some traditions, Thursday is considered favorable for repaying debts, while Friday, on the contrary, is deemed unlucky; in others, the emphasis shifts to other days of the week. Moreover, in the original Styler text there is a logical inconsistency: it is stated that after sunset money was not advised to be given out so as not to carry away the luck, but then follows a phrase about 'monetary matters being tried to be completed in the darkness,' which contradicts the very meaning of the superstition (by the logic of the belief, matters should have been completed before sunset, not in the darkness). These discrepancies show that folk superstitions had no single 'canon' and were passed down in different variants from region to region and from generation to generation.
How to Treat Superstitions About Money
It is important to remember: all the beliefs listed are precisely folk superstitions and prejudices, not rules capable of actually influencing a person's financial situation. They can be regarded as a part of everyday beliefs and folklore, passed down from generation to generation, reflecting the old caution in handling money. From the standpoint of modern financial literacy, a decision about a loan should be made on the basis of agreements, interest terms and the ability to repay, not the calendar. We remind you that previously Styler also told why you should not carry photographs of close and deceased people in your wallet.
