Overview
- Today marks the first of three Friday the 13ths in 2026, with additional dates in March and November.
- Common origin stories cite the Last Supper’s 13 guests, Norse tales of Loki as a 13th intruder, and the Knights Templar arrests on Friday, Oct. 13, 1307.
- Researchers and commentators report no consistent increase in accidents or hospitalizations, noting factors such as confirmation bias and heightened caution.
- Behavior changes are widely reported, from skipped flights and events to lighter bookings, with a frequently quoted but loosely sourced estimate of about $900 million in lost activity per occurrence.
- The superstition varies globally—Tuesday the 13th is dreaded in Spain and Greece, Friday the 17th in Italy—and modern culture, from a 1907 novel to the long‑running film franchise, helped cement its hold.