It's Friday the 13th: Here's what to know about superstitions, tattoos and the day's origin
Today is Friday the 13th, an occurrence that happens only a couple of times a year.
This is the second Friday the 13th of 2024, just two months after the last one in September. It also happens to be Taylor Swift's birthday, and someone could be extra lucky on the day with an upcoming Mega Millions drawing. There will only be one Friday the 13th in 2025, in June.
The day has come to be associated with superstition, luck and magic, though it has some surprising origins. Trepidation around Friday the 13th may have been amplified by the slasher-movie series, but it likely has religious origins.
Whether you're carefully stepping over sidewalk cracks on Friday or leaning into the tradition of discounted tattoos on the spooky day, here is what to know about Friday the 13th.
See the map: The most popular superstitions by state
Origins of Friday and the number 13
The exact origins of Friday the 13th may be somewhat of a mystery of its own, but many agree it has roots in Christian stories.
Some tie the number to Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus Christ and is thought to be the 13th guest to arrive at the Last Supper, according to History.com.
Avoiding a connection between two otherwise unrelated events is part of humans' tendency to engage in "magical thinking," according to Dr. Phil Stevens, a retired anthropology professor from the University at Buffalo and the author of the book "Rethinking the Anthropology of Magic and Witchcraft: Inherently Human."
Other examples of this include a good luck charm or items becoming more valuable when they were owned by celebrities.
"So 13 is associated with that terrible event. And Friday, the 13th you get a double whammy. You get both of these elements coming together: the taboo against 13, and the crucifixion, which was on a Friday," Stevens said in an interview with USA TODAY last year.
Friday the 13th superstitions
Here are some common superstitions associated with bad luck on Friday the 13th:
Breaking a mirror: Breaking a mirror is said to bring seven years of bad luck, so handle glass carefully today.
Walking under a ladder: This superstition stems from the idea that walking under a ladder disrupts the triangle, a symbol of life, and invites misfortune.
Spilling salt: Accidentally spilling salt has been seen as bad luck for centuries. To counteract, throw a pinch over your left shoulder to ward off evil.
Crossing paths with a black cat: Black cats, often associated with witches and bad omens, are considered unlucky, especially when they cross your path on Friday the 13th.
Stepping on Cracks: The rhyme "step on a crack, break your mother's back" comes from the idea that stepping on cracks invites bad energy or harm.
To reverse your fortunes, some actions associated with bringing good luck include:
Carrying a lucky charm: Items like four-leaf clovers, horseshoes, or rabbit’s feet are believed to bring good luck and protection from bad vibes.
Knocking on wood: This age-old superstition is believed to prevent bad luck or jinxes. If you say something hopeful, knock on wood to "seal the deal" and keep good fortune on your side.
Why tattoos are also associated with Friday the 13th
While the superstitious may be avoiding taking any risks on Friday the 13th, those looking to get tattoos could be in for a good deal.
On Friday the 13th, many shops run special promotions charging steeply discounted prices to get work done, often for a flat rate at or even under shop minimum (the minimum fee a shop will usually charge on a tattoo to cover the cost of the basic supplies and overhead).
The average hourly price most artists charge is between $100 to $200 plus, making these flash sales a great deal. While affordable predesigned flash tattoos and flash sales are not uncommon practices throughout the rest of the calendar year, Friday the 13th is the one day you can depend on finding a wealth of markdowns at multiple shops near you.
The modern view of Friday the 13th as a tattoo holiday is often credited back to co-owner of Elm Street Tattoo in Dallas Oliver Peck, who you may recognize from TV show "Ink Master" and his brief marriage to Kat Von D (he later left the show after a blackface controversy).
In reference to Friday the 13th tattoo promotions, Peck previously told Vice that he "definitely wasn't the first person to do it," saying he drew some inspiration from fellow artist Dave Lum's Halloween specials, but that he did "make it an event." He threw his first major Friday the 13th function in 1995 at the now-defunct Pair O' Dice in Dallas, a marathon session of tattooing the number "13" on as many people as possible in a 24-hour period.
His swing at creating his own tradition caught on, as he and his co-workers began hosting these 24-hour tattoathons each year, at one point winning a spot in Guinness Book of World Records for tattooing the number 13 on 415 people in 24 hours on Friday, June 13, 2008.
A version of this story was previously published on Sept. 12, 2024.
Kinsey Crowley is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com, and follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Today is Friday the 13th: Superstition, tattoos and origins, explained
