Friday the 13th: Why This Date Still Gives Us the Chills
For some people, Friday the 13th is just another square on the calendar. For others, it is a day to tread carefully, avoid ladders, and maybe skip booking that flight. It is one of the most famous “unlucky” dates in the Western world. But why? Where did the fear come from, and does it have any real basis?
Let’s take a closer look at the history, folklore and pop culture that turned an ordinary date into something far more sinister.
The Fear Has a Name
There is even a technical term for fear of Friday the 13th: paraskevidekatriaphobia.
If that seems hard to say, it is because it is stitched together from Greek words:
- Paraskevi – Friday
- Deka – ten
- Tria – three
- Phobia – fear
Fear of the number 13 alone is called triskaidekaphobia. And yes, some people genuinely suffer from it.
Why Is the Number 13 Considered Unlucky?
The suspicion around 13 predates any fear of Fridays. In many ancient cultures, the number 12 was seen as complete and harmonious:
- 12 months in the year
- 12 signs of the zodiac
- 12 Olympian gods in Greek mythology
- 12 apostles in the Bible
Thirteen, sitting awkwardly just beyond this tidy number, was thought to disrupt balance.
The Last Supper
In Christian tradition, there were 13 people at the Last Supper: Jesus and his 12 apostles. Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, is often described as the 13th guest to sit at the table.
The crucifixion of Jesus took place on a Friday. Over time, these two strands merged in popular belief.
Norse Mythology
In Norse legend, 12 gods were dining in Valhalla when Loki, the trickster god, arrived uninvited as the 13th guest.
He tricked another god into killing Balder, bringing grief to the world. Again, 13 was linked to chaos and death.
Whether these stories directly created the superstition is debated, but they certainly reinforced it.
Why Friday?
Friday has not always had the best reputation either.
In Christian tradition, Friday is associated with several unfortunate events:
- The crucifixion of Jesus
- Some medieval traditions claimed Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit on a Friday
- Others believed the Great Flood began on a Friday
While historians question how widespread these beliefs truly were, the idea of Friday as a “bad” day took root in parts of Europe.
Combine that with the unease surrounding 13, and you have a date that feels doubly cursed.
The Knights Templar Theory
One popular theory links Friday the 13th to a real historical event.
On Friday 13 October 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered the arrest of hundreds of members of the Knights Templar. Many were tortured and later executed. It was a brutal crackdown that destroyed the powerful medieval order.
The story sounds convincing, especially for those who love a dark historical twist. However, most historians believe the superstition about Friday the 13th became widespread much later, in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Templar link may be more modern myth than medieval memory.
When Did People Start Fearing Friday the 13th?
Surprisingly, there is little solid evidence that Friday the 13th was widely feared before the 1800s.
A major boost to the superstition came from literature. In 1907, American author Thomas W. Lawson published a novel titled Friday, the Thirteenth.
It told the story of a stock market crash deliberately triggered on that date. The book was hugely popular and may have helped cement the date’s sinister reputation.
By the early 20th century, newspapers were treating Friday the 13th as an established omen of bad luck.
Enter the Slasher: Friday the 13th in Horror Cinema
Friday the 13th, the movie, changed everything for horror fans.
Released in 1980, the low-budget slasher film introduced audiences to Camp Crystal Lake and, in later sequels, to the iconic masked killer Jason Voorhees.
The franchise turned Friday the 13th into a pop culture juggernaut.
With multiple sequels, a crossover with A Nightmare on Elm Street, and a 2009 reboot, the series helped embed the date into horror folklore. For many fans, the day is less about genuine fear and more about celebrating classic slasher cinema with a rewatch.
It is hard to overstate how much the films strengthened the association between the date and danger. Even people who are not superstitious recognise the ominous ring of the name.
Real-World Effects
Superstition can have real consequences.
- Some buildings skip the 13th floor entirely, labelling it as 14.
- Hotels avoid a room 13.
- Restaurants rarely have a table 13.
- Airlines may avoid row 13.
- Certain hospitals skip rooms or wards numbered 13.
Researchers have estimated that millions of pounds are lost in business on Friday the 13th due to people avoiding travel or major purchases. That said, statistical studies have not shown the date to be more accident-prone than any other.
In fact, for every horror story about mishaps on Friday the 13th, there are countless completely ordinary days that pass without incident.
A Few Curious Facts
Here are some bits of trivia to impress your friends at the next horror movie night:
- A year can have up to three Friday the 13ths.
- Every year has at least one.
- In the Gregorian calendar, the 13th of any month is more likely to fall on a Friday than any other day of the week.
- In Italy, 17 is traditionally considered unlucky, not 13.
- In Spain and much of Latin America, Tuesday the 13th, not Friday, is the day to fear.
Superstition is cultural, what feels ominous in one country may mean nothing in another.
So, Is Friday the 13th Actually Unlucky?
There is no solid evidence that Friday the 13th brings more accidents, disasters or misfortune than any other day. The fear is largely a product of religious symbolism, folklore, literature and, more recently, cinema.
Yet the date endures.
Part of its appeal lies in storytelling. Humans love patterns, especially when they hint at danger. Friday the 13th is neat, memorable and just unsettling enough to spark the imagination.
For horror fans, it has become something to celebrate rather than fear. It is a reason to revisit a favourite slasher, swap ghost stories, or lean into the thrill of harmless superstition.
So when the next Friday the 13th rolls around, you can decide for yourself. Avoid black cats and ladders if you must. Or settle in with a horror classic and enjoy the delicious chill of a date that refuses to lose its dark reputation.
© Colin Lawson Books