Though not a recognized holiday, many know about Friday the 13th.
SAN FRANCISCO — Friday is 2025’s first and only Friday the 13th. Many believe the superstition-based day brings bad luck, but why does it exist?
It’s a mainly western superstition, but many genuinely worry when the day comes around every year. This year it’s only occurring once, but some years can host three Friday the 13ths.
Though not actually a holiday, it’s well known across the country. Here’s a bit more context to the day.
What are the origins of Friday the 13th?
While the exact origins aren’t entire clear, it likely comes from the Christian religion, according to National Geographic.
In the Bible, Judas was the 13th guest at the Last Supper when he is said to have betrayed Jesus. It could have made the number 13 “unlucky.” It’s believed so much, there’s a real fear of the number called Triskaidekaphobia. And the fear of the actual date itself is paraskevidekatriaphobia.
Is the number 13 unlucky?
Some experts believe people think 13 is unlucky or even “cursed” because they see 12 as a complete, whole number for things. There are 12 months in a year, 12 inches in a foot, and so on.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt hated the number so much, he refused to travel on the 13th day of any month. He also wouldn’t host 13 guests at a dinner party, according to Smithsonian Magazine.
Hotels also try and avoid having a 13th floor, if possible, since people are so uneasy with the number. Next time you’re in an elevator, check to see if the floors go from 12 to 14. Otis Elevator Company told KSBY up to 85% of their elevator panels today omit the number 13.
In other countries, like Spain, the number 13 is considered to also be unlucky. It’s more specifically focused on Tuesday the 13th, which is considered to be “day to dread” due to a connection to Greek and Roman mythology.
In Italy, people fear the 17th day of any month. because the Roman numeral for 17, XVII, can be rearranged to spell “my life is over” in Latin, according to National Geographic.
What happens on Friday the 13th?
Some businesses and people lean into the superstition, making it a sort of unofficial holiday. Tattoo shops offer sales, and businesses offer “spooky” savings.
In the 1980’s slasher film ‘Friday the 13th,’ it’s a bad day to go camping in the woods.
Krispy Kreme Friday the 13th deal
All Krispy Kreme customers can receive a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts for 13 cents with the purchase of another item Friday, June 13 only.
Chipotle Friday the 13th BOGO offer
Chipotle is celebrating their “tatted” fans on Friday the 13th by offering a buy-one-get-one free promotion from 3-4 p.m. local time for customers with tattoos. It can mean “a real tattoo, a temporary tattoo, a drawn-on tattoo, or another creative iteration invoking tattoos,” according to the company.