Why Is Friday the 13th Considered Unlucky?
- Holly Rhiannon
- Jun 13
- 5 min read
Most people recognize Friday the 13th as a date marked by superstition, whispered warnings, or horror movie marathons. But long before the hockey masks and slasher films, this odd combination of day and number carried a reputation that spanned centuries. Its roots aren't based in any single event, but rather in the gradual convergence of two separate fears: the number thirteen, and the day Friday.
A Tale of Two Ancient Fears
The fears surrounding Friday and the number 13 originate from separate histories but have long been linked in popular superstition. Friday’s unlucky reputation is rooted in medieval Christian tradition, where it is recognized as the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. This association gives the day a somber and foreboding character in European culture.
Separately, the number 13 has long carried a reputation for misfortune across various cultures. In ancient Greco-Roman thought, shaped by a duodecimal system that regarded twelve as a symbol of order and completeness, thirteen was seen as a disruptive outlier. We still echo that worldview today in our use of twelve months, twelve zodiac signs, and twelve hours each of day and night. Over time, this numerical unease combined with the superstitions surrounding Fridays to form the modern fear we now recognize as Friday the 13th.
Biblical Overtones and Tarot Cards
This biblical connection opens the door to a deeper look at how the number 13 gained its darker reputation. The Last Supper, held on Maundy Thursday, placed the number 13 at the center of a moment charged with betrayal and loss. Jesus shared his final meal with twelve disciples, with Judas often identified as the thirteenth guest and of course, the one whose actions led to the events of Good Friday.
Centuries later, as symbolic systems like the tarot took shape, the stigma surrounding the number 13 deepened. By the 16th century, the Major Arcana had positioned the Death card at number 13. In early decks such as the Visconti-Sforza from the mid-15th century, Death appears as a skeleton with a bow and arrow, a vivid image tied to plague-era imagery and the macabre art of the Dance of Death. Later, traditional decks like the Tarot de Marseille and the Rider–Waite retained Death as card XIII, often representing sweeping change or finality.
The day of Jesus' death and the tarot’s Death card as number thirteen have shaped art, stories, and rituals for centuries. Combine folklore, religion, and symbolism, and you get a potent brew that keeps superstition alive and well!
From Isolated Warnings to a Named Phobia
Despite separate superstitions tied to Fridays and the number 13, the fear of “Friday the 13th” as a unique phenomenon only began emerging in 19th-century France. One of the earliest documented references appears in the 1834 play Les Finesses des Gribouilles, in which a character laments, “Je suis né le vendredi 13 décembre 1813. D’où l’origine de tous mes malheurs” (“I was born on Friday, December 13, 1813. Thus arises the source of all my misfortunes”) This line indicates that by the 1830s, the date had started to carry an unmistakable sense of ill-fortune in popular culture, even if the superstition had not yet reached the widespread notoriety it holds today.
While those early mentions hinted at the date’s growing association with bad luck, the modern idea of fearing it as a specific phenomenon didn’t solidify until much later. In the late 20th century, American therapist Donald Dossey coined the term paraskevidekatriaphobia, combining Greek roots for “Friday,” “thirteen,” and “fear.” He used it in lectures and interviews to describe patients whose anxiety around the date interfered with daily life. A variant, friggatriskaidekaphobia, draws from the Norse name for Friday, Frigg, and connects to Norse myths, such as the story of Loki arriving uninvited as the 13th guest at a banquet of gods, which led to chaos and misfortune.
A Legend about the Templars
A widely repeated story claims that Friday the 13th’s unlucky reputation began with the mass arrest of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307. King Philip IV of France ordered the arrest of hundreds of Templars, charging them with heresy and other crimes, leading to their eventual dissolution.
Popular culture, especially novels like The Da Vinci Code, have romanticized this event as the origin of the superstition. However, historians find little evidence linking this historical event to the fear of Friday the 13th. The story does not appear in documents until centuries later and is considered a modern invention. Earlier French literary mentions from the 1800s about the date’s misfortune predate any connection to the Templars, suggesting the superstition developed independently from this medieval incident.
Rituals of Resistance
By the late 19th century, superstitions about the number 13 were widespread. In response, Captain William Fowler, a Civil War veteran, founded the Thirteen Club in New York City in 1882. The club aimed to challenge these beliefs by engaging in activities traditionally considered unlucky.
Members met on the 13th of each month at 8:13 p.m., often in Room 13 of the Knickerbocker Cottage. They performed acts such as walking under ladders, spilling salt, and breaking mirrors to demonstrate that these actions did not lead to misfortune. The club's gatherings attracted notable figures, including four U.S. presidents. Despite their efforts, the fear of the number 13 persisted, and the club's activities became a notable part of American cultural history.
Literature and the Birth of a Superstition
In 1907, American author Thomas W. Lawson published Friday, the Thirteenth, a novel centered on a ruthless stockbroker who manipulates superstitions surrounding the date to create panic and profit from a stock market crash. The book sold tens of thousands of copies and helped popularize the term “Friday the 13th” in English-speaking culture.
Its themes tapped into existing fears, making the date synonymous with bad luck and financial disaster. The story’s impact extended beyond print when it was adapted into a silent film in 1914, further embedding the phrase in public awareness. Since then, Friday the 13th has moved beyond coincidence to evoke a sense of foreboding and caution in the modern imagination, appearing frequently in media and popular culture.
How Friday the 13th Lives On
Today, the reputation of Friday the 13th is firmly established in popular culture, largely thanks to dozens of films bearing the title, starting with the 1980 slasher franchise. Despite no concrete evidence showing higher accident rates or disasters on this date, many people still change plans or avoid travel. Airlines sometimes report dips in bookings, and some buildings continue to skip labeling the 13th floor.
This widespread caution persists through repetition and storytelling. The phrase “Friday the 13th” has been cemented in books, newspapers, movies, urban legends, and even tattoo conventions. Each anecdote shared, every horror film promotion, and casual joke contribute to keeping the superstition alive, demonstrating the power of cultural narratives to shape collective belief.
A Stygian Nod to This Famous Day
To mark Friday the 13th, we’ve conjured up a limited mystery bundle for readers who like their books with a touch of the uncanny:
📖 1 surprise print title from our archive (Dark Flock, The Stygian Collection, or a signed copy of A Time When Demons)
🍵 1 pouch of our new literary tea (Obscura, Contemplative, or Traditional)
📚 1 surprise ebook, hand‑picked by us
Just $13 + shipping. Ships worldwide. Available through June 13 or while supplies last.
Only 13 available!
*A point of interest and argument in favour of 13:
Though many link the number to Judas and betrayal, the Last Supper’s 13 guests became the foundation of something greater:12 thrones for the apostles, and one for their king. Jesus wasn’t caught off guard by the betrayal; he chose Judas knowing exactly what would unfold. It can be argued then, that the gathering of 13 wasn’t cursed, it was deliberate, symbolic, and ultimately redemptive. If that’s bad luck, it’s the kind God seems happy to repeat.
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