Unlucky Friday the 13th: Here’s what makes the day considered so ominous.
Heads up, Friday the 13th is around the corner.
Many people view it as a very unlucky day, occurring up to three times in a year. What makes it considered unlucky? Some cite biblical connections. Here are a couple of the notable bad omens:
â—¾ Judas, the 13th member at the Last Supper, is seen as having betrayed Jesus.
â—¾ Friday: This day has been marked by several unfortunate events, including the crucifixion of Jesus.
There are also other cultural references about the number 13. In Norse mythology, Loki, the 13th attendee, crashed a dinner of the gods, leading to chaos and darkness.
What dates will be the next Friday 13th?
Fortunately, Fridays that fall on the 13th are not frequent occurrences. Typically, there are two in each year. However, 2026 could be particularly spooky for some, featuring three Fridays the 13th.
Phobia of the number 13
If you find yourself anxious about Friday the 13th, you’re not alone. You might be experiencing triskaidekaphobia, which is the fear of the number 13.
But if your anxiety primarily occurs on Fridays the 13th, you could have paraskevidekatriaphobia, a specific fear of that date.
Interestingly, a YouGov.com survey revealed that Americans believe walking under ladders is a worse omen than Friday the 13th.
Popular superstitions searched by state
A study conducted by a Wisconsin casino found that more individuals searched for positive superstitions rather than negative ones.
This 2021 analysis evaluated over 200 common superstitions by tracking search term popularity across different states via Google.
For many, the dread around Friday the 13th is mostly light-hearted—a playful superstition we might pretend to be seriously concerned about. Still, it couldn’t hurt to toss a little salt over your shoulder or keep an eye out for a lucky penny on your walks.
Written by Jim Sergent/YSL News
SOURCE TimeandDate.com, YouGov.com, NationalGeographic.com, LiveScience.com, and History.com
