Is Friday the 13th Really Unlucky?: The History and Superstitions Behind the Fear of 13

This Friday happens to be Friday the 13th, and while it just might be another Friday for some, for others, it’s a superstitious day.

In various religious and mythology stories, the number 13 is believed to be unlucky.

According to the University of South Carolina, in Norse mythology, the god Loki was 13th to arrive at a feast in Valhalla, where he tricked another attendee into killing the god Baldur.

In some Christianity stories, Judas — the apostle who betrayed Jesus — was the 13th guest at the Last Supper, which happened on the 13th of Nisan.

“Friday the 13th is often associated with triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of the number 13, which is rooted in religious and historical events,” clinical psychologist Katy Kamkar said. “Over time, the day has become more infamous for various reasons, including cultural and media influences, such as horror movies that reinforce negative associations.”

This can lead to common thought biases, where people may form connections between coincidences or bad luck and specific dates, she noted.

Even today, cruise ships don’t have a 13th floor, and neither do hotels, apartment or condo buildings, due to triskaidekaphobia.

“Society normalizes the idea that 13 is an ‘unlucky’ number with practices such as not having a 13th floor in buildings,” University of Waterloo psychology professor Christine Purdon said. “Having a 13th floor was only possible with elevators, which were a sensational, somewhat scary new technology, so it also may tie into fears about elevators and people not wanting to enter or leave an elevator on the 13th floor.”

In general, Purdon believes the fear for many people is not so much of Friday 13th itself, but rather of failing to do something that could potentially avert future harm, especially something not particularly difficult, such as avoiding the number 13.

“We understand so little about why bad things happen to good people, and we have quite limited control over the future; we may think that there is something to the superstition (else why would it persist for centuries?) so better safe than sorry,” Purdon said.

As to whether the Friday the 13th superstition persists today, it might be starting to wane.

“In terms of today’s children, anxiety around Friday the 13th is likely less pronounced,” Kamkar said. “Younger generations are exposed to a wide range of fictional scares, so their fears may stem more from personal experiences rather than specific dates.”

Overall, to reduce personal anxiety around Friday the 13th, people can identify and reframe negative or anxious thoughts, seek support and use relaxation techniques or mindfulness to lessen the emotional impact of the fear, Kamkar said.

If you are feeling anxiety about Friday the 13th and would like some assistance, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care has a free resource that doesn’t require a medical referral.