Is Friday the 13th really unlucky, or is it just the world’s most successful superstition?

[Anonymous]

Today is Friday the 13th — the one day of the year where perfectly normal people suddenly start side-eyeing ladders, avoiding black cats, and treating mirrors like they’re made of dynamite.

Today is Friday the 13th

There’s even an official name for the fear of it: paraskevidekatriaphobia (yes, that’s a real word and no, I will not try to pronounce it before coffee).

Some people refuse to travel, make big decisions, or even leave the house on Friday the 13th. Others treat it like any other day… except maybe they’re just a little extra careful not to trip over anything suspicious.

So what about you?

Do you believe Friday the 13th is actually unlucky?
Have you ever had something weird or unfortunate happen on this date?
Or do you think it’s just a superstition that got way out of hand?
Mine: I’m not superstitious… but if I see a ladder next to a black cat standing under a broken mirror today, I’m definitely taking the long way around. 😄

[AviatorTom]

Studies have shown conflicting results. One 1993 study by Scanlon, Luben, Scanlon, & Singleton reported that "the risk of hospital admission as a result of a transport accident may be increased by as much as 52 percent on the 13th" without limiting that data to only Fridays.

A 2008 study by the Dutch Centre for Insurance Statistics that "fewer accidents and reports of fire and theft occur when the 13th of the month falls on a Friday than on other Fridays, because people are preventatively more careful or just stay home. Statistically speaking, driving is slightly safer on Friday the 13th, at least in the Netherlands; in the last two years, Dutch insurers received reports of an average 7,800 traffic accidents each Friday; but the average figure when the 13th fell on a Friday was just 7,500."

If luck is considered totally random, then statistically, it makes sense that Friday the 13th is more unlucky than other days since the 13th falls on Friday more than any other day, see table below.

An interesting Wikipedia article can tell you all about Friday the 13th...

Wikipedia: Friday the 13th

[Lliam]

I was born on the 13th (although not a Friday) and always considered it a lucky day. I think it's fun when it falls on a Friday. I laugh off superstitions.

In a quick search, I found:
While the number 13 is often considered unlucky in many Western cultures, it is regarded as a lucky, auspicious, or positive number in Italian, Chinese, and ancient Egyptian cultures.

Italy: The number 13 is associated with prosperity, fertility, good fortune, abundance and success.

China: The number is considered lucky, meaning "assured growth" or "definitely vibrant".

Ancient Egypt: 13 was associated with the final stage of transformation and rebirth, representing a spiritual journey.

In Greek myth, it represents Zeus who was the most powerful god of them all.

Other Contexts: In some traditions, 13 represents the 13 lunar cycles in a year, and in some, it is viewed as an "angel number" symbolizing love.

[nekkibarbie]

Friday the 13th isn't genuinely unlucky—it's arguably the world's most successful superstition. Historically, Friday carried negative connotations in Christian tradition (the day of Jesus' crucifixion), and the number 13 has been seen as ominous in various ancient cultures (disrupting the "completeness" of 12). But the specific combination of "Friday the 13th" as a unified bad-luck day only gained traction in the late 19th century—earlier references are scarce and separate.
In reality, insurance statistics and studies (like those from the Dutch Centre for Insurance Statistics) show that accidents, fires, and thefts are often fewer on Friday the 13th than on regular Fridays—likely because people are more cautious or stay home. No solid evidence supports increased misfortune; what we see is classic confirmation bias: bad events stick in memory, good ones fade.
I don't believe in it at all, though I'll admit—if I spot a ladder, a black cat, and a broken mirror combo today, I'll smile and take the detour. Superstitions are more fun when you play along without actually buying in. 😏

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

So fun fact about Friday the 13th, prior to the church becoming the most popular and dominant religion in the west, it was a pagan holiday celebrating fertility (aka they had a lot of sex at their parties). And of course once the church came into power and were all “premarital sex is a sin that will damn you for eternity!” They also worked to make it so that the holiday was seen as a day of bad luck rather than a day to celebrate life and baby-making.

[Purpleronnie]

Well , not exactly true


There are 2 other Friday the 13ths this year so for the superstitious that’s the unholy trinity.


The whole Good Friday thing has roots in the bible / Christianity ✝️ , crucifiction ( Good Friday of jeebus , the last supper , Jeebus dined with his 12 apostles making 13 )
But if religion wast your thing then the arrest of the knights Templar (France , 1307) gets the blame?


More recently though and from literature and the novel named Friday the 13th by Thomas Lawson popularized the irrational fear.


Maybe your a Tupac fan , he was shot and killed on Friday 13th


It’s all superstitious nonsense though but whatever tickles your pickle , bad things happen every day of the year somewhere in the world so if you want to attribute them to the madness go right ahead 😂😂

[ohsheeT]

Feb March Nov
3 of them this year its just like any other day it could rain snow or be sunny
You can be happy or sad
Rich or poor
Lost or found
Right or wrong
Smile or frown
In or out
Up or down
Or wait till tomorrow it will be the 14th and start all over again
What ever you believe in
Today im looking for new friends to be idiots with me
So we can fail to succeed

[MikeMcMansion]

The Knights Templar were arrested on Friday, October 13, 1307, by King Philip IV of France, which contributed to the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th. This event marked the beginning of the end for the powerful order, as they were accused of heresy and other crimes, leading to their eventual dissolution.

I and some war historians believe this marked the beginning of the end of Christianity’s warrior-like attitude-and spreading in that way.

[thegreenyogi]

I don't really live my life by these things. And so far it's been a good day for me plus the sun is really shining so no I wouldn't consider it an unlucky day.

[blondfrog]

What's funny is there are some days where I have bad luck and other days I didn't like yesterday. Nothing bad happened but last month I got in a car accident but it was February 14th which you look on my calendar last month. It was the day before the 13th of Friday. What's interesting that we got probably the 13th two months in a row.

[foxsquirrell]

I mean why would it be unlucky? If it is unlucky does it mean that all people around the world will suffer something bad happening to them today? Why is 13 considered unlucky to begin with? In India I think it is considered to be a good number.

[CriminallyInsane]

I never got what was unlucky about it other than the number 13, I don't see what part Friday plays in it. I've even tried looking up the origin of it and never really found much.

[Summeroflove]

Ask any first responder, emergency room doctor or nurse, 911 dispatcher, and the like. It’s full moons, Halloween, and Friday the 13th. And if a full moon is present on any of those days…. Good luck

[OneViewpoint]

Friday the 13th is just more primitive stupidity from dumb people. Or more humor from those who don’t take this stuff seriously.

Count me as one of the latter. I’ve gotta wonder though if belief can affect outcomes in some cases.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

My honest bassline:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ftdZ363R9kQ

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

[front2back]

I respect these old superstitions out of curiosity and fun, but overall to me like Astrology it is rather useless.
Especially since my "unlucky" day often tends to be a Tuesday of some sort, I doubt this theory.

[DryGermanGuy]

The crew of Apollo 13 might have an opinion, but in everyday life, people are quite safe.

[HawkPerception]

There's a lot of old superstitions. Some of them make sense and others don't. This is an example of one that doesn't make any sense.

[Zack-Bann]

Welp I just got major surgery today
So much for tempting fate huh


And in the end it all worked out

[strateguy632]

Maybe if you believed it you would noticed something bad. but i have been lucky all day so far and in a few hours supper!

[lilBigPotato]

It's a normal day. More accidents happen on Friday 13th, but that's because people change their behaviour because they think it's a bad day...

[douride2]

If I hadn't come across this question I wouldn't have even thought about it being Friday the 13th. So far no bad luck has befallen me yet today.

[midnightmoon05]

me not supersitious

there are 3 Friday the 13 this yr.

[WeezertheTeazer]

Friday 13th's of Any month Have always been My Lucky Days!!!

[LadyBecks]

I don't really buy into Friday the 13th as being unlucky. To me, it's just another day.

[abc3643]

Well, I was arrested on Friday the 13th, so you tell me...

[slatyb]

Just superstition. by the way, the 13th falls on Friday more than any other day of the week.

[Ms_Facesitter]

Oh I like that. Friday is always a good day for me.

[Dargil]

I was thinking of carrying a black cat and a broken mirror underneath the ladder.

[LC75LC71]

Well it was great to see a monster of a dead man, with the same name slash heads off.. Plus black cats are involved! A winner to me.

[Anonymous]

I had a wonderful Friday the 13th
It's passed midnight here in Aus
It's now the 14th March

Night night 🌃

[ItsAshh2009]

I never pay attention to it when it’s Friday the 13th

[Anonymous]

Friday the 13th originates from Friday October 13th 10-something-or other when the king of France had the Knights Templars arrested across all of France and most of Europe.

[dragoblack]

Eh, it's just superstition amplified by the Friday the 13th horror movies

[Smegskull]

There are definitely more successful superstitions.

[robocop666]

show me a statistic showing more accidents happen on this day

[loveslongnails]

It's my favorite day of the year!!!

[LiamJHayden]

I've been having a great day.

[Iron_Man]

I had a hard day with people today

[afnan169]

100 percent superstition

[Alex757]

I believe its a superstition

[noohair]

It has not been bad for me.

[Jonettacali]

I prefer sundays. Thanks!

[Jeff51]

Don't believe in it.

[Kingofkings1992]

Superstition