Friday 13th is here: Why people think it's unlucky and what's the mystery behind it?

Time of India

a day ago

Live Events
What is a superstition?
Friday the 13th: Why Is the Number 13 Seen as Unlucky?
Mystery behind Unlucky Friday
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
Friday 13th is considered unlucky in Western culture and people believe bad things can happen on this day due to a long-standing superstition. Friday the 13th is widely recognised as an unlucky day, rooted in ancient superstitions about the number 13 and Fridays being unlucky in some cultures.Friday the 13th has long held a place in pop culture, most famously as the title of a popular horror film franchise.This year, some businesses like Krispy Kreme and Chipotle are embracing the spooky date with special food promotions.In comparison, last year featured two Friday the 13ths, while 2026 will have three—falling in February, March, and November.Though its exact origins are unclear, National Geographic Kids notes the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th likely stems from Christian tradition.According to Psychology Today, being superstitious means behaving in a way that is either "based on fear of the unknown and/or faith in magic or luck." Superstitions can be culturally informed, the publication also notes, ranging from the evil eye amulets thought to ward off evil in countries like Turkey to the American notion that wishing on a star will bring good luck while opening an umbrella indoors will usher in misfortune.The belief that the number 13 brings bad luck has been around for centuries. According to the BBC, many trace the superstition back to the Bible—specifically to the Last Supper, where Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was said to be the 13th guest.A similar legend exists in Norse mythology, where a dinner among the gods was disrupted by an uninvited 13th guest—Loki—who ultimately brought chaos and darkness to the world. Even today, some cultures view 13 dinner guests as a bad omen, going so far as to add a teddy bear to the table as a symbolic 14th guest.The fear of the number 13 runs so deep that many hotels skip 'Room 13,' and high-rise buildings often jump from the 12th to the 14th floor. Even some airlines avoid having a 13th row on their planes.In various traditions, Friday has long been associated with misfortune. According to the Bible, several troubling events took place on a Friday, including the onset of the Great Flood and the moment Adam and Eve committed the first sin.Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, written in the 1300s, also links Friday with "mischance." In historical England, the day was even known as "Hangman's Day"—when executions by hanging were typically carried out.The specific fear surrounding Friday the 13th, however, appears to be a more recent development. An 1834 French literary article noted, "It is always Fridays and the number 13 that bring bad luck."Interestingly, there's even a name for the fear of Friday the 13th: paraskevidekatriaphobia.Despite its ominous reputation in some cultures, Friday holds deep spiritual significance in others. In Islam, Friday is considered the holiest day of the week, while in Judaism, Friday evening ushers in Shabbat—the sacred day of rest.