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Highlights

• Friday the 13th has long been associated with bad luck, although its origins remain unclear.
• Norse mythology, Christian tradition and historical events are among the stories linked to the superstition.
• The fear of the date has two clinical names, while the next Friday the 13th after November 2026 will fall in August 2027.

Friday the 13th has a reputation for being unlucky, with some people avoiding travel, delaying important decisions or taking extra precautions whenever the date appears on the calendar.

The superstition returns on November 13, 2026, marking the third Friday the 13th of the year, following dates in February and March. Although the origins of the belief are uncertain, several myths, religious traditions and cultural references have helped keep it alive.