Are you feeling a little nervous about Friday the 13th? You’re not alone, dear one. This date has captivated human imagination for centuries, shrouded in mystery, superstition, and more than a few spine-tingling tales.
But here’s something that might surprise you: 2026 is a rare year with THREE Friday the 13ths—February 13th, March 13th, and November 13th. That’s the maximum possible in any calendar year, and it only happens when a common year begins on a Thursday.
So should you hide under the covers on these dates? Or is there something deeper—something more empowering—to understand about this infamous day? After four decades of spiritual work, I can tell you: the truth about Friday the 13th might just set you free.
Friday the 13th 2026 Dates
Mark your calendar—here are all three Friday the 13ths in 2026:
- February 13, 2026 — The first one arrives just before Valentine’s Day
- March 13, 2026 — Back-to-back months, a rare occurrence
- November 13, 2026 — The final one as autumn deepens
This February-March-November pattern is special—it won’t happen again until 2037. The last time we experienced it was 2015, and before that, 2009.
Where Does the Fear of Friday the 13th Come From?
The superstition around Friday the 13th is actually a combination of two ancient fears: the fear of the number 13 (triskaidekaphobia) and a historical distrust of Fridays.
The Number 13 in History
Many historians trace the unease around 13 to the Last Supper, where Jesus dined with his 12 disciples—13 guests total—the night before his crucifixion. Others point to Norse mythology, where the trickster god Loki crashed a banquet as the uninvited 13th guest, leading to chaos and the death of the beloved god Baldur.
This fear runs so deep that many high-rise buildings skip the 13th floor entirely, jumping from 12 to 14. Hotels, hospitals, and airports often avoid the number 13 in room numbers and gate assignments.
The History of Friday
Fridays have their own complicated past. In medieval Britain, Friday was traditionally execution day—hardly a date to celebrate. The name itself comes from Frigg (or Freya), the Norse goddess of love and fertility, though Christianity later associated the day with the crucifixion of Christ.
The Knights Templar Connection
One of the most dramatic historical events connected to Friday the 13th occurred on October 13, 1307, when King Philip IV of France ordered the mass arrest of the Knights Templar. Thousands of these warrior monks were seized, tortured, and eventually executed. While this story gained popular attention after Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, historians debate how much it actually influenced the modern superstition.
The Psychology Behind the Fear
The fear of Friday the 13th has its own scientific name: paraskevidekatriaphobia (from the Greek paraskeví meaning Friday, and dekatreís meaning thirteen). Some researchers estimate that millions of people adjust their behavior on this date—avoiding travel, postponing important decisions, or staying home altogether.
But here’s what fascinates me as a spiritual practitioner: studies have consistently failed to find any increase in accidents, hospital admissions, or disasters on Friday the 13th. A famous 1993 study in the British Medical Journal did suggest increased traffic accidents, but later research debunked these findings.
What we’re really dealing with is the power of belief. When we expect bad things to happen, we become hypervigilant, noticing and remembering every minor mishap while ignoring the countless ordinary moments.
Fascinating Facts About Friday the 13th
It Can Only Happen 1-3 Times Per Year
Every year has at least one Friday the 13th, but never more than three. The longest you can go without one is 14 months.
Not Unlucky Everywhere
Different cultures fear different dates entirely. In Italy, Friday the 17th is considered unlucky, while 13 is actually a lucky number. In Spain and much of Latin America, it’s Tuesday the 13th (Martes trece) that carries the curse. Greece shares this Tuesday superstition.
Famous People Born on Friday the 13th
Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense himself, was born on Friday, August 13, 1899. Other notable Friday the 13th babies include Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, playwright Samuel Beckett, and former Cuban president Fidel Castro. Their successes suggest the date isn’t quite the curse it’s made out to be.
Finland Turned It Into Something Positive
Since 1995, Finland has observed National Accident Day on Friday the 13th—not to fear the date, but to raise awareness about road safety, workplace safety, and accident prevention. They transformed superstition into social good.
A Numerological Perspective on 13
In numerology, no number is inherently “good” or “bad.” Each carries its own vibration and lessons.
The number 13 reduces to 4 (1+3=4), which represents stability, hard work, and building solid foundations. Far from unlucky, 4 is the number of the Earth element—grounding, practical, and reliable.
If you were born on the 13th of any month, your birthday number carries the energy of transformation and rebirth. The 13th card in the traditional Tarot is Death—not literal death, but profound change, endings that make way for new beginnings.
How to Approach Friday the 13th Spiritually
Instead of fearing these dates, I invite you to see them as opportunities for reflection and intention-setting. Here’s how:
Release What No Longer Serves You
The energy of 13 is transformative. Use these Fridays to consciously release old patterns, limiting beliefs, or situations that have run their course. Write them down and symbolically burn the paper (safely!) or tear it up.
Challenge Your Superstitions
What fears are you carrying that don’t serve you? Friday the 13th is a perfect day to examine the beliefs you’ve inherited and decide which ones actually align with your truth.
Practice Gratitude
Counter any anxious energy by actively noting the good in your day. Keep a gratitude list specifically for Friday the 13th and watch how many blessings you can count.
Connect with Your Intuition
The veil between worlds is said to thin on mystically charged dates. Use this time for meditation, journaling, or connecting with your spiritual guides. You might be surprised by the insights that come through.
The Asteroid Apophis and Friday the 13th, 2029
Here’s an interesting cosmic footnote: the asteroid 99942 Apophis will make an extremely close pass by Earth on—you guessed it—Friday, April 13, 2029. When first discovered in 2004, scientists briefly worried it might impact our planet.
Today, we know there’s no risk of collision. Apophis will pass within 20,000 miles of Earth—closer than our communication satellites—giving astronomers an unprecedented opportunity to study a near-Earth asteroid. It’s a reminder that what we fear often turns out to be far less dangerous than imagined.
Final Thoughts: Reclaiming Friday the 13th
After all my years of spiritual work, I’ve come to see Friday the 13th not as a day to fear, but as a day to examine our relationship with fear itself.
The date has no inherent power to harm you. Your personal energy, your choices, and your beliefs shape your experience far more than any calendar date ever could. The superstitious among us give their power away to external forces; the spiritually awakened know that the power lies within.
So when February 13th, March 13th, and November 13th roll around this year, I encourage you to greet them with curiosity rather than dread. Notice what comes up for you. Challenge old beliefs. Perhaps even do something you’ve been afraid to do.
You might just discover that Friday the 13th becomes your luckiest day of all.
What’s your experience with Friday the 13th? Do you have rituals or beliefs around this date? I’d love to hear your stories.
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