In one Norse myth, the trickster god Loki crash-landed a dinner party for 12 gods in Valhalla as the 13th guest. Loki tricked the blind god Höðr into shooting Balder, the god of joy, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow, killing him. Balder’s death caused great suffering in the world, which may have led to the number 13 being considered unlucky.