The Number 13 Is Unlucky

The World's Most Avoided Number

Details

According to deeply entrenched superstition in Western cultures, the number 13 carries significant misfortune and should be avoided in important activities, dates, and locations. This powerful numerical taboo manifests in building floors skipping from 12 to 14, absent hotel room numbers, people avoiding travel or major decisions on the 13th day of any month (especially Friday the 13th), and the deliberate avoidance of 13 participants in groups or events. Those who experience genuine anxiety regarding this number suffer from triskaidekaphobia, a recognized specific phobia affecting millions worldwide.

Historical Context

This numerical avoidance belief has multiple documented historical origins:

In Christian tradition, Judas was the 13th guest at the Last Supper before betraying Jesus.
Norse mythology describes a disastrous dinner of 12 gods disrupted when Loki arrived as the 13th guest.
Ancient Babylonian numerology considered 12 a complete, perfect number, making 13 transgressive.
Friday the 13th gained additional significance after the Knights Templar were arrested on Friday, October 13, 1307.
The fear may connect to mathematical properties—12 was historically considered “complete” (12 months, zodiac signs, etc.).

This ubiquitous superstition represents one of the most widely recognized and institutionalized taboos in modern Western society.

Modern Relevance

This numerical avoidance remains remarkably prevalent in contemporary society. Research estimates that triskaidekaphobia costs the U.S. economy up to $900 million annually through changed travel plans, purchasing decisions, and work absences. Most high-rise buildings worldwide continue to omit the 13th floor in numbering. Airlines frequently skip row 13 in aircraft seating. The superstition has been reinforced through horror films and literature connecting the number with misfortune. This numerical taboo exemplifies how deeply certain superstitions can become embedded in institutional practices and architecture, persisting far beyond their original religious or cultural contexts through social reinforcement and commercial accommodation.

Sources

Lachenmeyer, N. (2004). 13: The Story of the World’s Most Popular Superstition. Thunder’s Mouth Press.
Vyse, S. (2013). Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition. Oxford University Press.

Quick Facts

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Why Superstitions Persist in Modern Times

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