Why Friday the 13th is considered unlucky — and why some countries fear a different date

For hundreds of years, Friday the 13th has been considered a date of misfortune and garnered an eerie reputation in Western culture, with a whole horror franchise inspired by it.

The date is blamed for everything from minor mishaps to major disasters. But where did the superstition come from, and is there any truth behind it?

The superstition surrounding the number 13 predates the modern calendar.

In many traditions and cultures, the number 12 is viewed as complete. Think of 12 months in a year, 12 zodiac signs or 12 hours on a clock. However, thirteen disrupts that order.

In Christian tradition, the association is often traced to the Last Supper, described in the Bible. Thirteen people sat at the table, with Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus Christ, frequently considered as the 13th guest. Friday, meanwhile, is believed to be the day of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Norse mythology adds another layer. One legend tells of a banquet where 12 gods were joined by a 13th, the trickster Loki, whose arrival led to chaos and death.

There is also possibly a medieval link.

Another oft-cited historical event occurred on Friday, October 13, 1307, when King Philip IV of France ordered the arrest of members of the Knights Templar.

It is worth noting that historians debate whether this directly shaped the superstition, but the date is frequently mentioned in discussions of its origins.

Bringing us back to modern times, the superstition further gave people the heebie-jeebies through books and cinema. Anyone keen for a Friday the 13th marathon? The series somewhat transformed the date into a global symbol of horror and doom.

It has gotten to a point that there is even a phobia for it called paraskevidekatriaphobia.

So we are superstitious about it, but is it actually more dangerous?

Despite the anxiety, research has consistently found no reliable evidence that more accidents, deaths or disasters occur on Friday the 13th compared to other Fridays. Some studies even suggest fewer people travel on the day, potentially reducing risk.

What does increase is awareness. When something goes wrong, people are more likely to remember it if it happens on a date already associated with bad luck.

Not everyone fears Friday the 13th and the superstitions that go with it, though.

In Spain and parts of Latin America, it’s Tuesday the 13th that raises eyebrows. In Greece, Tuesday carries ominous historical associations. Meanwhile, in Italy, the unlucky number is 17 — not 13 — and some Italians are more wary of Friday the 17th.

IOL