Fear of Friday the 13th Costs Businesses Millions Despite No Evidence of Bad Luck

The Modern Superstition That Shook the World

Despite being one of the most feared dates on the calendar, Friday the 13th is surprisingly modern—the first recorded instance in England dates only to 1913 . An estimated 17 to 21 million people in the United States suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia, making it the most feared day and date in history . The name itself was coined by psychotherapist Donald Dossey, combining Greek words for "Friday" (Paraskevi), "thirteen" (triskaideka), and "fear" (phobos) .

Dossey's center estimated that up to $800 million is lost every Friday the 13th as businesses lose millions in revenue because people avoid regular behaviors like traveling or making investments . Some people are so paralyzed by fear that they avoid their normal routines in doing business, taking flights or even getting out of bed .

Ancient Fears Meet Religious Tradition

The superstition combines two separate anxieties that have deep historical roots. Western cultures have historically associated the number 12 with completeness—there are 12 days of Christmas, 12 months and zodiac signs, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 gods of Olympus and 12 tribes of Israel . Twelve is mathematically significant, divisible by many different numbers and useful for various calculations, while 13 comes along as "kind of a dud" .

Friday's negative associations have roots in Christian tradition: Jesus was crucified on a Friday, which was also said to be the day Eve gave Adam the fateful apple from the Tree of Knowledge, as well as the day Cain killed his brother, Abel . The superstition relates to Jesus's Last Supper and crucifixion in which there were thirteen individuals present in the Upper Room on the thirteenth of Nisan Maundy Thursday, the night before his death on Good Friday .

Pop Culture Amplifies Ancient Fears

The 1907 publication of Thomas W. Lawson's popular novel "Friday, the Thirteenth" is frequently mentioned as an important marker of the modern superstition, telling the story of a broker who attempts to profit from fear of the supposedly cursed date by exploiting the stock market . The horror movie Friday the 13th, released in 1980, introduced the world to hockey mask-wearing killer Jason, spawning multiple sequels, comic books, novellas, video games, and related merchandise .

Thanks to popular culture like the movie Friday the 13th, the superstition is now widespread in countries around the world, with journalists having a hand in spreading the popularity of that idea . Interestingly, in Italy the unlucky day tends to be Friday the 17th, while in Spanish speaking countries, the unlucky day tends to be Tuesday the 13th .

Science Debunks the Fear

Despite centuries of dread, research consistently shows Friday the 13th poses no actual danger. A 2011 German study found no reason to fear surgery on Friday the 13th, with frequency and outcomes of procedures identical to other days, while U.S. emergency rooms see no uptick in patients . Even the stock market, where irrational fears can drive real-world behavior, fares no worse on Friday the 13th .

The real impact lies in the psychology of belief itself. Behavioral scientist Jane Risen found that superstitions influence even nonbelievers, with both superstitious and non-superstitious people believing a bad outcome is more likely when they've been jinxed . As our global economy becomes increasingly interconnected, understanding how ancient fears shape modern behavior becomes crucial—not because Friday the 13th is dangerous, but because our collective belief in its power creates very real economic consequences.