Overview

• The superstition arose from combining the number 13’s association with betrayal and disorder—rooted in accounts like Judas as the 13th guest—and Friday’s link to misfortune in Christian tradition
• The term paraskevidekatriaphobia—derived from Greek—describes an irrational fear of the date, reinforced by historical tragedies from Buckingham Palace’s bombing to the Costa Concordia disaster
• The 1980 horror film franchise Friday the 13th cemented the date’s reputation by intertwining it with masked killers and slasher imagery
• On June 13, 2025, businesses including tattoo parlors, Krispy Kreme and Chipotle are offering flash sales, discounted donuts and BOGO deals to capitalize on the day’s mystique
• A parallel trend among spiritual seekers views angel number 13 as a symbol of challenge and renewal, prompting rituals from meditation to cleansing ceremonies