"Three Times of Bad Omen?"... The Beginning of 'Friday the 13th' After 11 Years

Friday, February 13, 2026. The day synonymous with bad omens, 'Friday the 13th', has arrived. This year is special as this eerie day occurs a remarkable three times.

The year 2026 has a total of three Fridays that fall on the 13th: February, March, and November. This phenomenon occurs for the first time in 11 years since 2015, following a calendar pattern that appears when January 1 falls on a Thursday in a common year (non-leap year).

◆ Fear Turns into Festival... "Let’s Eat Donuts, Get Tattoos, and Watch Movies"

In modern society, this day has transformed from fear into a kind of 'cultural festival'. Tattoo shops across the United States designate this day as 'Tattoo Holiday', offering discounts on tattoos featuring the number 13 or horror themes, attracting crowds.

Corporate marketing is also heating up. Krispy Kreme is giving away a total of 13,000 boxes of glazed donuts through a random draw for customers visiting stores today (the 13th). Horror magazine Fangoria has partnered with Regal Cinemas to re-screen five classic films from the 'Friday the 13th' franchise on the big screen during the three Fridays this year. Horror fans are thrilled at the chance to see the killer Jason Voorhees back in theaters.

◆ Why Friday the 13th?

There are various theories regarding the origin of this day.

• Bible: Judas, who betrayed Jesus, was the '13th guest' at the Last Supper, and the day Jesus was crucified was a Friday.

• History: On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France arrested, tortured, and executed the Knights Templar.

• Mythology: In Norse mythology, Loki, the uninvited 13th guest at a banquet of 12 gods in Valhalla, caused the death of the god of light, Balder.

◆ "Actually, It's Safe"

Due to these superstitions, there are even people who suffer from a phobia known as 'Friggatriskaidekaphobia'. However, there is no evidence that the rate of accidents or disasters is higher on this day. Experts advise, "While anxiety can lead to accidents, the date itself does not bring misfortune."

Even if we get through today safely, it’s too early to relax. Exactly one month later, on March 13, and again on November 13, Jason's mask awaits us once more.