Today I Learned: Why Friday the 13th Is Considered Unlucky
A quick Google search will show you the many movies and books titled Friday the 13th. There's even a whole slasher film franchise of it, with 12 movies to date. This just goes to show how Friday the 13th, a day considered to be unlucky, has long captured the imagination and superstition of cultures around the world.
What is Friday the 13th?
Friday the 13th is when the 13th day of the month in the Gregorian calendar falls on a Friday (well, duh). This happens only at least once every year, so it has become a big deal. Once in a blue moon (another superstition), it can occur up to three times a year, like in 2015 when February, March, and November had a Friday the 13th. The next time we have three Fridays the 13th in our lifetime, is in 2026.
For future reference, a month will have a Friday the 13th if the first day is a Sunday.
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Why is Friday the 13th considered to be bad luck?
Often regarded as a harbinger of bad luck, this particular date combines two elements historically viewed with suspicion: the day Friday and the number 13.
Western cultures have traditionally associated the number 12 with completeness and perfection, as seen in the 12 months of the year and the 12 zodiac signs. In contrast, the number 13 has been perceived as an irregularity, an unsettling step beyond the completeness of 12.
This unease is further compounded by its appearance in religious contexts, such as the 13 guests at the Last Supper, where Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus, was the 13th attendee. This association with betrayal and misfortune cemented the number's negative reputation.
In Norse myth, there's also something about the numbers 12 and 13. Supposedly, there's a dinner party attended by 12 Norse gods at Valhalla, a majestic hall located in Asgard. Trickster god Loki crashed the party, becoming the 13th guest. He arranged for Hoor (god of darkness) to shoot Balder (god of joy and gladness) with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. Balder died, and all joy and gladness were lost in the world caused by the uninvited 13th guest.
Friday, too, carries its own historical baggage. In Christian tradition, Friday is associated with significant biblical events, including the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This connection to sorrow and sacrifice has led to the day's association with ill fortune. Some sources cite the arrest of the Knights Templar on a Friday the 13th (October 13, 1307).
Plenty of gruesome events that also happened on a Friday that 13th further stoked its unlucky reputation: the arrest of the Knights Templar (1307), the bombing of Buckingham Palace (1940), the murder of New Yorker Kitty Genovese (1964), and the death of rapper Tupac Shakur (1996).
When combined, Friday the 13th emerges as a potent symbol of bad luck, a day when people tread cautiously, avoiding major decisions and events.
Interestingly, the superstition surrounding this day is not universal. In Spain and Spanish-speaking countries, Tuesday the 13th is considered unlucky, while in Italy, it is Friday the 17th that people dread. These variations highlight how cultural interpretations and historical events can shape superstitions differently in various regions.
Some evidence also suggests that Friday and the number 13 were once considered symbols of good fortune. In pagan times, Friday was associated with the goddess Frigg, a powerful figure linked to love and fertility. Similarly, the number 13 was revered for its connection to lunar and menstrual cycles. However, as patriarchal religions gained prominence, these associations were recast as malevolent, and the superstition of Friday the 13th took hold.
Happy Friday the 13th
In recent years, efforts to reclaim the positive aspects of Friday the 13th have emerged. Public figures like Taylor Swift have embraced the number 13 as a personal symbol of good luck, challenging the notion of its inherent negativity.
In 2009, she told Jay Leno in an interview: "I was born on the 13th. I turned 13 on Friday the 13th. My first album went gold in 13 weeks. My first No. 1 song had a 13-second intro. Every time I’ve won an award, I’ve been seated in either the 13th seat, the 13th row, the 13th section, or row M, which is the 13th letter. Basically, whenever a 13 comes up in my life, it’s a good thing."
Friday the 13th in Popular Culture
The cultural impact of Friday the 13th extends into modern times, most notably through the horror film franchise of the same name, created by Victor Miller. The 1980 movie introduced audiences to Jason Voorhees, a hockey mask-wearing killer, and solidified the date's association with terror and misfortune.
It has since spawned 12 slasher films, with the last released in 2009. Two books have also been released chronicling the making of the Friday the 13th films and about making the Friday the 13th: The Series (which ran from 1987 to 199). Other non-fiction works surrounding the franchise are a compilation of interviews with the cast and crew titled Making Friday the 13th: The Legend of Camp Blood (2005) and a detailed history titled Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th (2005). Six of the 12 films have been adapted into novels, with the first one published in 1982 by Michael Avallone.
