Why is Friday the 13th considered an unlucky day?

Throughout 2025, only one Friday the 13th film will be shown, and it's today. This is a date considered by some to be unlucky or a bad omen, with "bad things happening." However, it's emphasized that this is merely a myth, one that has been gaining ground in recent years due to American cinema.

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This myth has grown mainly due to horror films starring Jason, which are called "Friday the 13th ." The film 's plot emphasizes the bad things that can happen on this date. However, different cultures attribute this type of superstition to other dates. One of the best-known is Tuesday the 13th in Argentina. It's worth noting that next year there will be more dates. In 2026, there will be three Friday the 13ths in February, March, and November.

Why is it the unlucky date?

According to La Nación, there are various explanations for why this is an unlucky date. Some experts, like Phil Stevens, a retired anthropology professor at the University of Buffalo , say this belief dates back to the Bible. “This belief is supposed to come from the Christian religion. An example of this is given in the Bible, when Judas, the 13th guest at the Last Supper, betrayed Jesus, and he was arrested. As a result, “the Messiah” was crucified the next day, on a Friday ,” Stevens told USA Today. Furthermore, the academic said that he personally likes to think that what revolves around Friday the 13th superstitions is magical thinking.

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"This usually occurs when someone believes in a causal relationship between two things, but there's no way to connect them. The clearest example of this is when a Friday coincides with the 13th, when it acquires another kind of power," he added.

For its part, the Encyclopedia Britannica emphasizes that this idea originated in the West. The first writings about this day and its symbolic significance began in the 13th century in France. It was Marquis de Salvo who wrote an article in the Revue de Paris about the story of a Sicilian count who killed his daughter on Friday the 13th.

“It’s always Friday and the number 13 that bring bad luck!” he noted.

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