Dark history behind Friday the 13th and why it's deemed so unlucky

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Friday the 13th is considered one of the unluckiest days of the year, but where did this superstition originate? We explore the surprising history behind this infamous date

Millions of people still feel a genuine jolt of unease when Friday the 13th rolls around – cancelling plans, avoiding travel, or quietly thinking twice before taking a risk.

However, most of us would struggle to explain where the superstition actually comes from. For many, the fear is less about history and more about habit.

It's something picked up from family warnings, playground myths, social media jokes and decades of horror-film shorthand. However, the origins are far murkier than most people realise.

Confused by the tradition, one X user asked: "Can someone tell me why Friday the 13th is unlucky? Because Friday and the number 13 are both especially lucky in Judaism, what meaning do they hold for Christianity?"

Another shared the same bewilderment, quipping: "Why is Friday the 13th deemed so unlucky? I would think Monday the 13th is a far more dastardly day!"

So, to get to the bottom of why this date still sends shivers down our spines, historians and folklorists have traced its eerie origins through the ages. Here's what you need to know.

The sinister associations of Friday the 13th are said to stretch all the way back to Jesus Christ and the Last Supper. The biblical gathering was attended by 13 people – Jesus and his disciples.

The very next day, on Good Friday, Jesus was crucified. According to legend, the number 13 has long been linked with Judas, who betrayed Christ before the crucifixion. He is considered the imperfect 13, in contrast to 12, which symbolises the months in a year.

Steve Roud, author of The Penguin Guide to the Superstitions of Britain and Ireland, previously told the BBC: "Because Friday was the day of the crucifixion, Fridays were always regarded as a day of penance and abstinence. This religious belief spilled over into a general dislike of starting anything – or doing anything important – on a Friday."

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