As September rolls in, many are gearing up for the Halloween season with decorations, bonfires, and seasonal pumpkin treats.

In addition to Halloween’s eerie atmosphere, Friday the 13th often brings feelings of unease and bad luck. This year, the date will appear twice: once in September and again in December. The following occurrence won’t be until June 2025.

The dread associated with this day may have been heightened by the “Friday the 13th” slasher film series, but what is the source of this superstition? Here are the details.

What makes Friday the 13th unlucky?

As noted by National Geographic Kids, the precise origin of the belief that Friday the 13th is unlucky is unclear, but it likely traces back to Christian traditions.

<p”For instance, Judas, who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th person at the Last Supper. Additionally, various misfortunes are said to have occurred on Fridays in biblical contexts,” as reported by National Geographic Kids.

The combination of Friday and the number 13 stems from these biblical taboos. According to Stevens, the Last Supper involved 13 individuals, and since the arrest of Jesus led to his crucifixion on a Friday, both elements contribute to the day’s negative reputation.

<p”Thus, the number 13 is linked with this dreadful occasion, and Friday the 13th amplifies the superstition further. You essentially have both the stigma surrounding 13 and the significance of the crucifixion taking place on a Friday,” commented Stevens.

Though this belief is rooted in the Last Supper, Stevens noted that its prominence didn’t rise until about a thousand years after the events of Jesus’s life, when interest in biblical stories surged. Presently, however, he believes that the stigma around the number 13 is fading as more people adopt it positively, suggesting it may eventually disappear completely.

How ‘magical thinking’ influences Friday the 13th superstitions

Last year, Dr. Phil Stevens, a retired anthropology professor at the University at Buffalo and author of “Rethinking the Anthropology of Magic and Witchcraft: Inherently Human,” spoke with YSL News about this holiday and its connection to “magical thinking.”

He described the beliefs surrounding Friday the 13th as a form of magical thinking, where people perceive a link between two unrelated events. In this case, the combination of Friday and the number 13 creates a unique significance.

Stevens also referred to it as a taboo, arguing that “superstition” often bears a negative implication even if someone personally subscribes to it.

“The term taboo fits this type of superstition because it involves avoiding connections that might bring bad outcomes. Individuals can work magic to influence events by recognizing links, but they shy away from connections that may lead to misfortune,” he explained.

People often seek positive associations as well. For instance, during the 2008 Olympics, China deliberately scheduled the opening ceremony at 8:08 p.m. on the 8th day of the 8th month, as the number 8 is deemed lucky.

Another illustration includes someone treating an item as a good luck charm or giving extra value to something that previously belonged to a celebrity, according to Stevens.

What is the link between Friday the 13th and tattoos?

For tattoo studios, Friday the 13th resembles a type of Black Friday.

Many shops offer special deals, often providing tattoos at significantly reduced prices, sometimes charging only the shop minimum, which covers basic costs and expenses.

Typically, tattoo artists charge between $100 to $200 per hour, making these flash sales an attractive opportunity. Although affordable flash tattoos and sales are available throughout the year, Friday the 13th stands out as a day when you can find exceptional discounts at various shops.

The modern practice of treating Friday the 13th as a tattoo event is often attributed to Oliver Peck, co-owner of Elm Street Tattoo in Dallas, known for his appearance on the TV series “Ink Master” and his previous marriage to Kat Von D (he has been removed from the show following a blackface incident).

Peck mentioned in an interview with Vice that while he wasn’t the first to initiate this trend, he freshened it up by making it a celebratory occasion. His inaugural significant event took place in 1995 at the now-closed Pair O’ Dice in Dallas, marked by a nonstop tattooing of the number “13” over 24 hours.

This innovative take caught on, leading him and his colleagues to host annual 24-hour tattoo events, even breaking a Guinness World Record by tattooing the number “13” on 415 customers within a single day on June 13, 2008.

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at YSL News. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari