Friday the 13th, a date mired in superstition and fear Many Western cultures subscribe to the superstition of Friday the 13th, which is on par with fears of broken mirrors or walking under ladders. (more) Friday the 13th superstition Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Friday-the-13th-superstition Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: friggatriskaidekaphobia, paraskevidekatriaphobia Written by Laura Payne Laura Payne is a freelance writer whose work covers many topics. She is a former Wayne State University linguistics instructor. Laura Payne Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Jan 16, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot a Question { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is paraskevidekatriaphobia? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Paraskevidekatriaphobia is the fear of Friday the 13th. Coined by psychotherapist Donald Dossey, the term combines the Greek words for u201CFridayu201D (Paraskevi), u201Cthirteenu201D (triskaideka), and u201Cfearu201D (phobos)." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Which historical works are linked to the origin of the Friday the 13th superstition? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The superstition was first written about nearly 200 years ago in France, with references in literature such as Le Chateau de Carini (1834) and the play Les Finesses de gribouille (1834)." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What was the Thirteen Club? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The Thirteen Club was founded by former Civil War Captain William Fowler in the late 19th century to challenge superstitions. Members engaged in activities such as spilling salt and opening umbrellas indoors to break taboos about luck." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How is the number 13 viewed in Norse mythology? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "In Norse mythology, the number 13 is considered unlucky due to the story of Loki crashing a banquet in Valhalla as the 13th guest, leading to the death of Balder, the god of light and goodness." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How does the superstition of Friday the 13th vary in different countries? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "In Spain and Greece Tuesday the 13th is considered unlucky, whereas in Italy Friday the 17th is feared. In Japan and China April 4 is unlucky because, when spoken, the number four sounds like the Japanese and Chinese words for u201Cdeath.u201D" } } ] } Top Questions What is paraskevidekatriaphobia? Paraskevidekatriaphobia is the fear of Friday the 13th. Coined by psychotherapist Donald Dossey, the term combines the Greek words for “Friday” (Paraskevi), “thirteen” (triskaideka), and “fear” (phobos).

　　Which historical works are linked to the origin of the Friday the 13th superstition? The superstition was first written about nearly 200 years ago in France, with references in literature such as Le Chateau de Carini (1834) and the play Les Finesses de gribouille (1834).

　　What was the Thirteen Club? The Thirteen Club was founded by former Civil War Captain William Fowler in the late 19th century to challenge superstitions. Members engaged in activities such as spilling salt and opening umbrellas indoors to break taboos about luck.

　　How is the number 13 viewed in Norse mythology? In Norse mythology, the number 13 is considered unlucky due to the story of Loki crashing a banquet in Valhalla as the 13th guest, leading to the death of Balder, the god of light and goodness.

　　How does the superstition of Friday the 13th vary in different countries? In Spain and Greece Tuesday the 13th is considered unlucky, whereas in Italy Friday the 17th is feared. In Japan and China April 4 is unlucky because, when spoken, the number four sounds like the Japanese and Chinese words for “death.”

　　Friday the 13th, date that signifies bad luck in many Western cultures. The superstition is akin to the beliefs that crossing paths with a black cat, walking under a ladder, opening an umbrella indoors, or breaking a mirror bring bad luck. Friday the 13th, which occurs when the 13th day of a month in the Gregorian calendar falls on a Friday, happens at least once a year and sometimes up to three times a year. On average, one occurs every 212.35 days. Fear of Friday the 13th causes some people to experience anxiety, which can include physical symptoms such as ...(100 of 902 words)

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