A Short & Spooky History of Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th has long had a spooky reputation, but where did all the fear come from? Let’s take a friendly stroll through history to find out!

First, let’s talk about the number 13. It’s been considered unlucky for centuries, especially in Western cultures. One theory is that it messes with the "perfect" number 12—think 12 months in a year, 12 zodiac signs, 12 apostles, and so on. Add one more, and it feels… off. That might be why some buildings skip the 13th floor, jumping straight from 12 to 14!

Now, Fridays haven’t always had the best reputation either. In medieval times, it was considered an unlucky day to start a journey or a new project. Some even believed that Eve gave Adam the fateful apple on a Friday. And according to Christian tradition, Jesus was crucified on a Friday—adding to the day's somber vibe.

So, when you put Friday and the number 13 together, it’s like a double whammy of bad luck. The fear of this combo even has a name: Friggatriskaidekaphobia (try saying that three times fast!).

The superstition really took off in the 20th century. Some credit Thomas Lawson’s 1907 novel Friday, the Thirteenth, in which a shady stockbroker uses the date to crash the market. Then, of course, the spooky Friday the 13th horror movie franchise gave the date a pop culture boost in the 1980s, complete with a hockey-mask-wearing villain named Jason.

Despite all the superstitions, most Friday the 13ths pass without any real disasters. For many people, it’s just another day—maybe with a little extra mystery or fun.

So whether you avoid ladders and black cats or embrace the spooky vibes, Friday the 13th is a quirky little reminder of how stories and traditions shape what we believe.