Is Friday the 13th scary? What to know about the ‘unlucky’ date

Beware of black cats and misfortune, the year’s first Friday the 13th is just ahead.

Friday, Feb. 13, will mark the first Friday the 13th of the year, a time for superstitions and spooky fears. The superstition dates back centuries, with origins in early European folk traditions and Christianity, according to History.com.

2026 will see three Friday the 13ths, two in succession, with the next one coming up on March 13. The third won’t follow until November.

Here’s what to know about Friday the 13th.

When is Friday the 13th in 2026?

The first Friday the 13th of 2026 is Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.

What’s special about Friday the 13th?

Many consider Friday the 13th an unlucky day, based on superstitious beliefs.

How do people typically mark Friday the 13th?

For people looking to avoid bad luck on Friday the 13th, common practices include:

• Wearing clothes inside out

• Breaking clear, uncolored glass

• Avoiding cracks in the sidewalk

• Carrying an acorn in their pocket

Why is Friday the 13th feared?

Friday the 13th superstitions date back centuries in western culture, with roots in Christianity and European customs, History.com noted. Over time, the number 13 came to represent foreboding bad things, or disturbing the balance.

One Christian reference is the Last Supper, which the 13th guest, Judas Iscariot, attended before betraying Jesus Christ.

Nordic folklore features a similar narrative of Loki, a troublesome god, arriving as the 13th guest to a dinner party.

When is the next Friday the 13th in 2026?

The next Friday the 13th will be Friday, March 13, 2026.

There are three Friday the 13ths in 2026, on the following dates:

Is Friday the 13th really unlucky?

While many say its just unfounded superstition, the date has been tied to numerous terrible events, according to Business Insider, including:

• German forces during World War II bombed Buckingham Palace on Sept. 13, 1940. The bombs hit both the palace and its chapel.

• Uruguayan Flight 571 was headed toward Chile when it crash-landed in the Andes on Oct. 13, 1972. In the following days, the survivors were reduced to hiding in the fuselage of the plane and eating parts of the dead passengers. The incident became a book and a movie.

• After the buyout of United Airlines fell through on Oct. 13, 1989, the ripples were felt throughout the stock market, specifically the junk bond market. CNBC reported this resulted in a 7% sell-off in the Dow Jones, and the S&P 500 lost 6%.

• The Costa Concordia passenger liner sank on Jan. 13, 2012. It became the largest passenger ship ever wrecked, with almost double the number of people on board than on the Titanic, although only 32 people were killed.

Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Why do people fear Friday the 13th? See origins, historic events