NEWS Friday the 13th is often considered an unlucky day, and fear of this day has even been given its own name — paraskavedekatriaphobia. But why Friday, and why the 13th? The idea that this day is unlucky can be linked to history, religion, and even popular culture. Katarina Gregersdotter is docent of English literature and a member of Svenska Deckarakademin. Her research focuses on crime fiction, horror films, and horror literature.
Katarina Gregersdotter, associate professor at the Department of Language Studies.
ImageUlrika Bergfors“When Svenska Deckarakademin was founded in 1971, it had 13 members. This was a wink at the unlucky number 13 and Agatha Christie's 1934 crime novel Thirteen at Dinner. Today, we have 21 members, and none of us are particularly superstitious.”, says Katarina Gregersdotter who holds seat no.20.
Superstition and superstitious beliefs are common themes in the horror genre, and the tarnished reputation of Friday the 13th is often reproduced, for example in Thomas W. Lawson's novel Friday, the Thirteenth (1907) and the horror film series Friday the 13th.
“Funnily enough, there are 12 films in the Friday the 13th series. There have been rumors for a long time that a 13th film will be made, but perhaps no one wants to tempt fate? Serial killer Jason Voorhees may have swung his last machete, and if so, I don't think many people will mourn him.”
The Master of Horror, Stephen King, suffers from triskaidekaphobia – simply a phobia of the number 13. He wrote an article in The New York Times in 1984 where he came out as a phobic and talked about how he avoids the number 13 in his everyday life.
“He admitted: It's neurotic, sure. But it's also... safer. He went on to give many examples of terrible things that happened on Friday the 13th.”
Katarina goes on to say that in the US, there is often no 13th floor – the elevator goes from 12 to 14.
In the Western world, the idea that Friday the 13th brings bad luck or misfortune is often linked to stories from the Bible: there were 13 people around the table at Jesus' last supper, and Jesus was crucified on a Friday. When the date 13 falls on a Friday, two factors that are believed to bring bad luck coincide. The Institute for Language and Folklore has several stories about superstitions linked to the number 13. For example, a record from Småland says: If you put thirteen slices of bread in the oven, your family will get smaller.
And those who are superstitious have a special year ahead of them. In 2026, the unlucky day and the unlucky date coincide three times: February 13, March 13, and November 13.
