Don’t schedule anything important on Friday the 13th! On this day, everything seems to go wrong and bad luck is around every corner. 

People often reinforce their own fears by only noticing events that confirm them. That’s why many believe more accidents and misfortunes happen specifically on this date. 

But is Friday the 13th really dangerous? Or is it just another regular day? 

Let’s explore why so many people associate fear and superstition with the number 13 — especially when it falls on a Friday — and how this date is viewed in Russia and the United States.

Where Does the Fear Come From?

The fear of the number 13 is known as triskaidekaphobia, and the fear of Friday the 13th specifically is called paraskevidekatriaphobia.

Those names are enough to give you chills. 

But where did this fear come from?

The exact reason people fear the number 13 is still unknown. One theory is that 12 is seen as a sacred, complete number in many cultures — think 12 months, 12 zodiac signs, 12 apostles — so anything beyond it, like 13, feels unnatural or unlucky. 

Some also point to Judas, the betrayer of Jesus, being the 13th guest at the Last Supper. 

In tarot cards, number 13 is associated with death. 

Fridays themselves historically carried negative associations due to executions and other grim events. 

Eventually, these two unlucky symbols — Friday and the number 13 — merged to create what many now believe is the unluckiest day of the year.

Interestingly, fear of Friday the 13th didn’t originate with the famous horror movie, but with a novel about a stock market scam, titled Friday the Thirteenth, published in the early 1900s. 

The horror movie Friday the 13th, featuring the masked killer Jason, came out much later in 1980, further cementing the day’s dark reputation — especially in the U.S.

Friday the 13th in the United States

In America, people treat Friday the 13th with serious caution. Superstitions and fears surround both the date and the number 13 itself. 

Many avoid scheduling meetings, flying, or doing anything important. Some particularly superstitious people won’t even drive or leave the house. 

There are even structural superstitions: in many American hotels and office buildings, you won’t find a 13th floor, room number 13, or office number 13. 

This fear is rooted in old legends and fueled by pop culture — movies, memes, songs — that continue to keep the superstition alive. 

Interestingly, other cultures fear different numbers. In Japan and China, people are terrified of the number 4, because its pronunciation is similar to the word “death.” 

That’s why in many Asian buildings, there is no 4th floor — and in some cases, after the 39th floor, it jumps straight to 50. 

In Italy, the unlucky number is 17 instead of 13.

Friday the 13th in Russia

In Russia, people are aware of Friday the 13th, and some may be cautious — but the fear isn’t nearly as widespread as in the U.S.

Yes, some Russians believe in this superstition, but there are no skipped 13th floors in buildings, and flights or doctor’s visits go on as usual. 

Russia has plenty of its own superstitions, but fear of Friday the 13th isn’t one of the strongest. 

People have always created superstitions to explain the unknown. But the truth is simple: if you expect bad things to happen, you’ll probably notice them. And if you don’t, the day will likely go by just like any other. 

Do you believe it’s a dangerous day? Share your thoughts in the comments below!