Do you have a case of paraskevidekatriaphobia?
If you're feeling uneasy about today — Friday the 13th — you just might.
This long and ominous-sounding word refers to the fear of …
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Do you have a case of paraskevidekatriaphobia?
If you're feeling uneasy about today — Friday the 13th — you just might.
This long and ominous-sounding word refers to the fear of Friday the 13th, a day that makes some folks avoid work, travel or even social events. While it's mostly considered an unserious term, many people truly dread the day, staying home and avoiding major life decisions. According to National Geographic Kids, some even take the day off work to avoid the so-called bad luck. It turns out, this fear has deep historical roots that trace back centuries.
For those who are afraid of the number 13 itself (triskaidekaphobia), it's the number, not the day, that causes the panic. The term comes from ancient Greek, and the word means "fear of the number 13."
But where did this superstition come from? Gulf Coast Media did some digging into the origins of this superstition and found a mix of history, culture and coincidence.
What makes Friday the 13th so unlucky? According to History.com, researchers estimate that about 10% of the U.S. population fears the number 13, and when combined with Friday, the fear escalates. Every year, this superstition results in financial losses of over $800 million, as people avoid traveling, getting married or sometimes even going to work.
The roots of this fear trace back to ancient mythologies and historical events. For instance, one early myth ties the fear of the number 13 to one of the world's oldest legal documents — the Code of Hammurabi. Researchers believe the original text left out the 13th law (which the text was actually not numbered at all) due to a simple clerical error, but over time, people believed it was an intentional omission, further fueling the superstition.
One event often linked to the superstition is the mass arrest of the Knights Templar on Friday, Oct. 13, 1307. This religious and military order, formed in the 12th century, was targeted by King Philip IV of France, who wanted their wealth. Many of the Templars were executed, cementing Friday the 13th's association with bad fortune. However, like many tales involving the Templars, the full truth is clouded in mystery.
Other events on Friday the 13th have kept the legend alive. The German bombing of Buckingham Palace during World War II, the tragic murder of Kitty Genovese in Queens in 1964 and even the death of rapper Tupac Shakur in 1996 all happened on Friday the 13th, adding to the superstition's ominous reputation.
The legend took on a life of its own in the 20th century, especially after the publication of "Friday, the Thirteenth" by Thomas William Lawson in 1907. The novel's plot revolves around a New York stockbroker who exploits people's superstitions about the date to wreak havoc on Wall Street.
The most iconic pop culture contribution to the Friday the 13th mythos, however, is the 1980 horror film "Friday the 13th." It introduced the world to Jason Voorhees, a hockey mask-wearing killer who became a household name, with a franchise that includes sequels, comic books and even video games.
The superstition around 13 is deeply embedded in Western culture. The Bible plays a big part — at the Last Supper, there were 13 people at the table, including Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus. That's a bad omen in many traditions. It's also believed that Friday, in particular, is unlucky due to its association with significant negative events, like Jesus' crucifixion, the fall of Adam and Eve and the death of Abel by his brother Cain.
The number 13's association with misfortune isn't unique to Christianity, though. Ancient Norse mythology also ties the number to bad luck. The god Loki was the 13th guest at a dinner party in Valhalla, and his mischief led to chaos.
In Brazil, Friday the 13th in August is considered particularly unlucky. The month of August, or agosto, rhymes with desgosto, meaning sorrow, which adds to the superstition surrounding the day.
According to TimeAndDate.com, for a month to feature a Friday the 13th, it must begin on a Sunday. So, if you're eager for the next Friday the 13th, mark your calendar for June 2025.
Every year will have at least one Friday the 13th. The good news is that no year will have more than three occurrences of the date. The longest stretch without a Friday the 13th is 14 months.
Interestingly, the pattern of Friday the 13ths follows a predictable calendar cycle. If a common year starts on a Thursday, the months of February, March and November will each feature a Friday the 13th. This pattern will occur 11 times throughout the 21st century.
In the late 1800s, Captain William Fowler of New York set out to challenge the superstition surrounding the number 13. He founded the Thirteen Club, which met on the 13th of each month in a room numbered 13. To mock other superstitions, the members would walk under ladders and eat dinner together in what some would consider a perilous setting. Even former U.S. presidents like Theodore Roosevelt and Grover Cleveland attended, making the club a surprising symbol of defiance.
While the fear of 13 is largely a Western phenomenon, other cultures have different superstitions. In much of East and Southeast Asia, the number four is feared more than 13 due to its similarity in sound to the word for "death" in several languages. In fact, in China and other countries influenced by Chinese traditions, it's the number four that causes people to avoid certain floors in buildings or hotel rooms.
Meanwhile, in Italy, 17 is considered the unlucky number, and Friday the 17th is feared far more than Friday the 13th. Similarly, in Greece and many Spanish-speaking countries, Tuesday the 13th is the day of bad luck.
Friday the 13th isn't all doom and gloom. In fact, it has given birth to some of the most iconic figures in history. Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense, was born on a Friday the 13th, which makes his association with thrillers even more fitting. The famed director of "Psycho" and "The Birds" is not alone in celebrating his birthday on this infamous day. Other celebrities born on a Friday the 13th include actors Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, playwright Samuel Beckett and former Cuban president Fidel Castro.
And let's not forget Taylor Swift, who celebrates her birthday today, Dec. 13. She famously considers the number 13 her lucky number, often referencing it in her music.
"I was born on the 13th. I turned 13 on Friday the 13th. My first album went gold in 13 weeks," Swift said during an interview with MTV in 2009. The icon is known for wearing the number, drawing it on the back of her hand and even dropping 13 emoji's in her fans' stream chats.
In Finland, since 1995, one Friday the 13th each year is dedicated to National Accident Day. This observance aims to raise awareness about safety and accident prevention, highlighting the importance of being cautious on the roads, at home and at work. It's a twist on the typical misfortune associated with the date, turning it into an opportunity for awareness and safety.
As with most superstitions, there's little evidence to definitively declare Friday the 13th as lucky or unlucky. For some of my friends, Saturday the 14th was always the bad day. Personally, I used to believe Sundays were the worst (probably because I worked in retail at the time), but now I find myself more like Douglas Adams' character Arthur Dent from "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," who "never got the hang of Thursdays." Whether you view Friday the 13th as an unlucky day or simply a fun superstition, it's clear that this day has captured the imagination of cultures, pop culture and even safety campaigns worldwide.
If you're feeling uneasy today, you're not alone. But if you're ready to defy the odds, take a page from the Thirteen Club and celebrate with a little luck of your own.
Information in this article was sourced from www.TimeandDate.com, https://kids.nationalgeographic.com and www.history.com.
