Friday 13th

Italians fear Friday the 17th and Greeks consider Tuesday the 13th to be unlucky. So, is there any real reason to fear Friday the 13th?

"Of 13 different conditions evaluated, only penetrating traumas were seen more often on Friday the 13th. Loki whispered all the right words in Hod's ear and the god then killed Balder with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. "Although the fear of Friday the 13th may exist, there is no worry that an increase in volume occurs on Friday the 13th, compared with the other days studies," the study concluded. So, is there actually a reason to fear Friday the 13th? But it's hardly universal — Italians fear Friday the 17th and Greeks consider Tuesday the 13th to be unlucky. Why is there fear attached to Friday the 13th?By

The origins of Friday the 13th are contested and have evolved over time in western cultures. Why is it unlucky? And should we be scared at all?

One study looked at theon Friday the 13th and the preceding Friday. It found no significant difference, inferring that "Friday the 13th didn't appear any busier than any other Friday," Dr Sturgess said. Aconcluded there was no consistent evidence for this claim, but still recognised "superstition-related anxiety" might have been at play. The origins of that are contested and have evolved over time. Deceived by Loki, another god is killed. This year, that falls in January and October.

It's the stuff of horror movies and scary stories... Friday the 13th — the unluckiest of the unlucky. The 13th falls on a Friday twice in 2023, ...

And it's the first of two Friday the 13ths in 2023. There'll be another one in October. Does that mean 2023 is super unlucky? No. Any calendar year has at least ...

The first January-October Friday the 13th year in the 21st century (2001 to 2100) occurred in 2006, which is two years after a leap year. So we can keep on going to find 10 January-October Friday the 13th years for the 25th century (2401 to 2500). The days and dates of any leap year match up again in periods of 28 years. Any leap year starting on a Sunday has three Friday the 13ths which fall in January, April and July. So this year, in 2023, we’ll have a Friday the 13th in January and October. Then in the 24th century (2301 to 2400), the cycle is again perturbed. The last time we had only one Friday the 13th in a calendar year was in Therefore, if our twofold Friday the 13th year comes three years after a leap year, as it does in 2023, the days and dates will match up again in 11, 22 and 28 years. This marked the first time in the 21st century (2001 to 2100) that New Year’s Day started on a Sunday. Friday has always gotten a bad rap regardless of its number in the month. Then the sole Friday the 13th of 2025 falls on June 13, 2025, exactly 26 weeks (2 x 13 weeks) after the December 2024 Friday the 13th. And it’s the first of two Friday the 13ths in 2023.

1 - Steve Bradbury creates an all-time great Olympic thriller · 2 - Greg Louganis' bad luck on the board ends with glorious gold · 3 - Lindsey Jacobellis' gold ...

“Even today I feel very emotional about it,” the now double Olympic champion explained. I didn’t know whether I had won the race. But some of the most unforgettable golds in Olympic history were won when athletes turned adversity on its head and walked away as Olympic champions. When the final began, Bradbury held back in last position, keeping a safe distance from the other four skaters who looked to have the medals wrapped up. There’s a reason short track speed skating is considered one of the most thrilling disciplines at the Olympic Winter Games. Unfortunately - or fortunately - for her, she did. With her first vault, disaster struck. The 19-year-old could only watch on helplessly as Switzerland's [Kerri Strug](https://olympics.com/en/athletes/kerri-strug) took her place on her country's artistic gymnastics team at [Atlanta 1996](https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/atlanta-1996), the USA had never won an Olympic gold medal in the team competition. [Beijing 2022](https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/beijing-2022), the American passed the line first to become the oldest snowboard gold medallist in the history of the Games in her fifth Olympic outing. Friday the 13th has often been associated with bad luck. [Steve Bradbury](https://olympics.com/en/athletes/steven-bradbury) lined up in the final of the 1000m at the 2002 Games in [Salt Lake City](https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/salt-lake-city-2002), he had already taken advantage of the misfortune of other athletes to get to the starting line, with their slips and penalties all playing a part in his charge to the gold medal race.