Do you get uneasy when the 13th rolls around, or when a receipt totals $13.13? Fear of the number 13, called triskaidekaphobia, is more common than you might think. Some hotels skip room 13, airlines avoid row 13, cruise ships leave out floor 13, and plenty of office buildings don’t even label a 13th floor. But where does this superstition come from? And how can you stop letting a number hold power over you?
What Is Triskaidekaphobia?
Triskaidekaphobia is the irrational fear of the number 13 in any form: on a calendar, a license plate, a hotel room, or even a clock. For some, just seeing it is enough to spark anxiety. And when it falls on a Friday, it ramps up even more, thanks to centuries of superstition about Friday the 13th.
While nearly half of Americans say they feel some unease around 13, there’s no evidence the number itself causes bad luck. People marry on the 13th, give birth on the 13th, and even win the lottery on the 13th. In fact, in some cultures, 13 is seen as lucky.
Why 13 Got Its “Unlucky” Reputation
Religious Roots
The most famous story comes from Christianity. At the Last Supper, Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th guest at the table. Some believe this cemented 13 as a number of betrayal. Later, Friday the 13th became tied to the crucifixion itself, giving both the day and the number a bad name.
Other associations fed the fear: 13 witches in a coven, 13 steps up to the gallows, 13 cards in a suit of playing cards. Over time, 13 kept showing up in contexts of endings, endings, and misfortune.
Cultural Influences
Pop culture did the rest. The Friday the 13th movie franchise, horror novels, and endless scary stories turned the number into a cultural symbol of doom. But here’s the truth: those tales are made for thrills and entertainment. Not because the number actually carries a curse.
Confirmation Bias
Once you believe something is unlucky, your brain looks for proof. If something goes wrong on the 13th, it sticks in your memory as evidence. If something goes right, you barely notice. This is called confirmation bias: we see what supports our beliefs and ignore the rest.
It’s like being bitten by a rooster as a kid. Years later, even seeing a harmless rooster painting can trigger unease. The rooster didn’t do anything in that moment, but your mind connected it with fear. Numbers work the same way: 13 isn’t inherently unlucky, but the belief makes it feel that way.
Reframing the Number 13
At its core, 13 is just a number. It has no more power than 12 or 14 unless we hand it meaning. In fact, numerologists point out that 13 reduces to 4 (1+3=4), a number of stability, structure, and foundations. Not so scary after all.
In some cultures, 13 is associated with fertility, renewal, and the divine feminine, since there are 13 lunar cycles in a year. For others, it symbolizes transformation—a reminder that every ending makes way for a beginning.
Friday the 13th
When Friday the 13th comes around, it’s easy to slip into worry. Instead of hiding, try turning the day into something positive:
- Plan a fun outing with friends.
- Start something new, use the symbolism of transformation.
- Treat it as a lucky charm day instead of a curse.
Plenty of people have met their partners, landed jobs, or had wonderful experiences on this date. If 13 truly carried a curse, those stories wouldn’t exist.
How to Overcome Triskaidekaphobia
If 13 still makes your stomach tighten, here are some simple approaches:
- Shift your focus. Remember that numbers don’t control events… your choices do.
- Challenge the bias. Keep a small journal: note every time something good happens on the 13th. It retrains your brain.
- Lean into it. Make 13 your lucky number: wear it, play it in games, or use it as a reminder of resilience.
- Ground yourself. When fear kicks in, pause, breathe, and remind yourself it’s just two digits side by side.
Flipping the Script on 13
13 is just a number. Its reputation comes from stories, myths, and Hollywood, not from reality. If you let it control you, it will. If you decide to reclaim it, it loses its bite.
When the 13th rolls around, or Friday the 13th, for that matter, don’t waste the day in fear. Celebrate it, embrace it, or simply ignore it. Life’s too short to hand your power over to superstition.
