This article was co-authored by Leza Labrador
and by wikiHow staff writer, Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.
. Leza Labrador, also known as The Social Sorceress, is a magic and manifestation expert based in Santa Clarita, CA. In 2021, Leza founded Bohemian Fig, through which she helps people step into their magic and power to fulfill great transformation. She has designed several courses, including Mind Alchemy, Awaken Your Alter Ego, Crafting Your Enchanted Life, and more. Leza offers a variety of ways to work with her, including one-on-one sessions, keynote speeches, retreats, and other events. With her personal journey rooted in Italian folk magic, experience in shadow work, and deep dives into self exploration, Leza is passionate about helping others find their true power and unlock their magic.
There are 11 references
cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
While some people fear the superstitions surrounding Friday the 13th, others love everything about the day, including saying “Happy Friday the 13th” to everyone they meet. If you're in the latter camp, check out our fun Happy Friday the 13th messages and GIFs , quotes, and ideas for how to celebrate . We'll also tell you all about the related superstitions surrounding this infamous day.
Happy Friday 13th Messages
- Happy Friday the 13th! Have a killer day!
- It's Friday the 13th. Hug a black cat for good luck!
- Happy Friday the 13th! May all of your irrational superstitions haunt you today.
- Happy Friday the 13th! Hope the coffee is strong and your day is uneventful.
Steps
Happy Friday the 13th Messages & GIFs
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1Wish those around you a Happy Friday the 13th in fun, unique ways. These messages can be sent as texts or added to emails on Friday the 13th. You can also use them face-to-face to keep your communication festive for the day. They express humor, a little fright, and good-natured fun to anyone you might encounter.
- Happy Friday the 13th! Have a killer day!
- It's Friday the 13th. Hug a black cat for good luck!
- It's Friday the 13th! Time to embrace the chaos and maybe avoid mirrors.
- Happy Frightday the 13th! May your day be filled with giggles and goosebumps.
- Feeling extra superstitious today? Me too! Let's just get through it together.
- It’s Friday the 13th, but remember—it’s just another day! Right?
- Wishing you a Friday the 13th filled minimal mishaps.
- Happy Friday the 13th! Hope you find some four-leaf clovers. You'll need em!
- Let's hope Friday the 13th brings more good luck than bad. Stay positive!
- Happy Friday the 13th: Keep calm and just... don’t go out.
- Freak out—it’s officially Friday the 13th.
- Finally, Friday the 13th…have a great weekend!
- Happy Friday the 13th! May all of your irrational superstitions haunt you today.
- Happy 13th! Knock on wood, avoid ladders, and wear your lucky socks.
- Stay safe out there on Friday the 13th!
- Don't worry, it's just another Friday... except it's also the 13th. Good luck with that!
- Happy (un)lucky Friday the 13th! Hope your coffee is strong and your day is uneventful.
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2Find cool images and GIFs to bring your messages to life. Whether you want to send a text using a creepy Friday the 13th image or share a funny GIF about superstition on Friday the 13th, it’s easy to send a link to friends and co-workers via text or on social media. Check these options out:Advertisement
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3Share short Friday the 13th captions on Instagram. Spook your friends or make them laugh with cute captions that celebrate or acknowledge Friday the 13th. Some are positive, while others poke fun at the superstitions associated with the day. These captions are a fun way to enjoy Friday the 13th with your online pals.
- Forget the bad luck, I'm choosing to have a great day. 🤞🍀
- Every Friday is a gift, embrace it—13 or not. 😆
- Friday the 13th is only bad luck if you choose it to be. 💪💫
- Wear a smile; Friday is here, and 13 is nothing to fear! 🤩
- Friday the 13th is like a black cat; it sneaks up on you unexpectedly. 🐈⬛
- Beware, Friday the 13th—a day when luck plays hard to get. 🍀
- On this day, take life with a grain of salt and a grain of courage. 🧂
- Why is 6 afraid of 7? Because it heard Friday the 13th was coming! 👹
- Feeling brave? Try spilling salt or breaking a mirror today! 🧂🪞
- I won't let Friday the 13th haunt my weekend plans! 🫣🥂
Happy Friday the 13th Sayings and Quotes
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Share these funny, festive quotes about Friday the 13th. Friday the 13th is rather infamous at this point, along with many of the related superstitions. There's no shortage of mentions in the media, so we’ve included some unique Friday the 13th quotes ahead. A few are even from Friday the 13th the film itself!
- "Friday the 13th is still better than Monday the whatever." — Anonymous
- "I'm not superstitious, but I am a little stitious." — The Office
- "A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere." — Groucho Marx
- "Don't want a four-leaf clover, Don't want an old horseshoe, Want your kiss because I just can't miss, With a good luck charm like you — Elvis Presley, "Good Luck Charm" [1] X Research source
- Don't be superstitious. Nothing will happen on Friday the 13th that cannot happen on Saturday the 14th.
- Don't walk under any ladders, Don't break any mirrors, Don't spill any salt, And don't walk by any black cats. Happy Friday the 13th!
- I'm not nearly as afraid of Friday the 13th as I am of the people who are afraid of Friday the 13th.
- “Superstition is foolish, childish, primitive, and irrational-but how much does it cost you to knock on wood?” — Judith Viorst
- It's Friday the 13th. Just warning you all before you make any weekend arrangements for wood cabins by the lake.
- “Friday the 13th, that's the day that hell raised.” — Lil Wayne, “Damn I’m Cold”
- “And on a Friday fell all this mischance.” — Chaucer
- “They were warned... They are doomed... And, on Friday the 13th, nothing will save them." — Friday the 13th (1980)
- “Just an FYI: Thursday the 12th is just as rare as Friday the 13th.” — Anonymous [2] X Research source
Fun Ways to Celebrate Friday the 13th
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1Have a scary movie marathon. Embrace the dark aspects of Friday the 13th and have your friends over to watch as many horror films as you can. Provide some comfy places to sit, turn the lights down, order some food (or create your own movie concession stand), and have fun getting spooked by every type of scary movie out there.
- If you decide to watch the entire Friday the 13th film franchise, try dressing up as Jason Voorhees or teenage victims from Camp Crystal Lake.
- It’s easy to dress as Friday the 13th
’s killer, Jason Voorhees. According to cosplay expert Naiquan Midyett, start by “getting yourself an army green jacket and add knife wounds, holes, tears, and some rips. Wear a pair of black jeans, along with black boots, black gloves, a hockey mask, and a fake bloody machete, of course.” [3]
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Expert Source
Naiquan Midyett
Cosplayer Expert Interview
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2Throw a Friday the 13th-themed party. Instead of running away from Friday the 13th superstitions, get festive by decorating your party space with miniature ladders used for crafts, black cat decorations , and safe broken mirror decorations . You can arrange your own “bad luck” accessories by knocking over salt shakers or use traditional scary decorations like spider webs to create the right mood.
- Create a Friday the 13th cake, complete with miniature ladder cake toppers or black cat cake decorations that everyone will love to look at (and eat).
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3Visit a local spooky location. If you live in an area where local witch trials once took place, visit the site to celebrate Friday the 13th . Head to a museum that features talismans or items associated with good or bad luck. It doesn’t have to only focus on Friday the 13th, either. If you have local haunted houses or ghost tours, take a group of friends and be frightened together.
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4Be brave by challenging superstitions. Throw superstitious caution to the wind, and go against every Friday the 13th rule there is. Let black cats cross your path, step under ladders, step on cracks, and break all the mirrors you want. Another way to say no to superstition and possibly change bad luck is to not avoid any big events or gatherings on Friday the 13th. If you’ve planned a party, wedding, or event, don’t cancel—instead, go ahead with your plans and show everyone that Friday the 13th doesn’t scare you.
Superstitions Associated With Friday the 13th
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1Avoid walking under a ladder. It’s thought that walking beneath a ladder disrupts its natural triangle shape. The triangle is considered a symbol of life , so disrupting it is believed to bring bad luck. In a practical sense, walking under a ladder is problematic, since it’s likely something may fall from above. [4] X Research source
- Ancient Egyptians respected the power of pyramids; they were among the first to consider walking under a ladder bad luck.
- Ladders were also said to be a link between the physical and spiritual realms, which should not be disrupted.
- In the Middle Ages, ladders were associated with the gallows, as well as the cross where Jesus was crucified.
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2Don’t allow black cats to cross your path. Black cats were seen as a bad omen and associated with witchcraft in medieval Europe. In 16th-century Italy, it was thought that an ill person would die if a black cat sat on their bed. Black cat superstition around Friday the 13th is also linked to the Norman and German idea that a black cat crossing your path meant death would come quickly. [5] X Research source
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3Keep from breaking a mirror to avoid 7 years of bad luck. Ancient Romans believed that the mirror was a reflection of the soul. If the mirror was broken or damaged, it was considered disrespectful to the soul itself. Since they believed the body renewed itself every 7 years, breaking a mirror was thought to cause 7 years of bad luck. [6] X Research source
- The number 7 was believed to be a sacred number that represented a complete cycle or period.
- The ancient Mayans used mirrors to communicate with the divine; mirrors were seen as portals to the spiritual world.
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4Don’t spill salt. Spilling salt was first associated with Leonardo Davinci’s painting, “The Last Supper.” In the painting, Judas Iscariot is depicted spilling a container of salt. Salt was considered a valuable and rare item in the ancient world. It was also thought that the devil lived behind the left shoulder, which is why a way to have good luck is to throw a pinch of salt over your left shoulder. [7] X Research source
- The word "salary" comes from the Latin "salarium," a term for payments that were made to Roman soldiers (often in salt).
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5Avoid stepping on any cracks. The idea that stepping on a crack is bad luck stems from a children’s rhyme that goes, “Step on a crack, break your mother's back.” Cracks in the pavement or earth were thought to be portals to the supernatural or locations where evil lived. The song was intended to encourage children to avoid cracks while playing. [8] X Research source
- The rhyme also exists in a version that goes, “Step on a crack, your mother will turn black.”
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6Knock on wood. Ancient Celtic pagans believed that spirits lived inside trees. Touching or knocking on trees was thought to offer protection against bad luck or evil spirits. It was also a way to thank the spirits in the trees for being lucky . [9] X Research source
- In a 19th-century children’s game called “Tiggy Touchwood,” kids played tag and could only find immunity by touching a piece of wood, like a door or a tree.
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7Carry a lucky charm. Keeping talismans or lucky charms to get rid of bad luck dates back to ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian cultures. Wearing or displaying these talismans was believed to offer protection and ward off negative energy and/or evil spirits. Some traditional lucky charms can be found ahead: [10] X Research source
- Scarabs (Egypt)
- 4-leaf clover (Ireland)
- Painted Dala horses (Sweden)
- Golden toads (China)
- Rabbit’s foot (African American Folk Magic)
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8Wear your clothes inside out. In some Celtic folklore, wearing clothes inside out was thought to ward off the faeries. Similar traditions included the practice of wearing clothes inside out as a way to confuse evil spirits so they wouldn’t be able to recognize the wearer. [11] X Research source
The History & Origins of Friday the 13th
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Friday the 13th is based on religious and cultural beliefs. In Christianity, the 13th disciple at the Last Supper was Judas, who betrayed Christ. In Norse mythology, the 13th god is Loki, who was associated with bringing chaos and death wherever he went. The combination of Friday and 13 came with the arrest of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13th, 1307. Since then, it’s been a day linked to bad luck. [12] X Research source
- The Last Supper was also said to have taken place on a Thursday, which meant that Jesus was crucified on a Friday.
- Paraskevidekatriaphobia is a term that refers to having a fear of Friday the 13th.
Is Friday the 13th bad luck?
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1Friday the 13th is considered bad luck in many Western traditions. This belief is based on the fact that the number 13 is associated with bad luck and misfortune. Many people avoid taking risks or making important decisions on Friday the 13th, but there is no scientific evidence to back up the belief that the day is unlucky.
- Master numerologist Glynis McCants notes that the number “13 gets a bad rap.” She links the idea of bad luck with the belief that something negative is going to happen. “On Friday the 13th, those who believe in the negativity of it actually manifest it. They make stuff go wrong.” [13]
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Expert Source
Glynis McCants
Master Numerologist Expert Interview - Magic and manifestation expert Leza Labrador similarly thinks that “a curse can only affect a person if you believe it can. If you don't believe that they have a hold of you, then they can't.” [14]
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Expert Source
Leza Labrador
Magic and Manifestation Expert Expert Interview
- Master numerologist Glynis McCants notes that the number “13 gets a bad rap.” She links the idea of bad luck with the belief that something negative is going to happen. “On Friday the 13th, those who believe in the negativity of it actually manifest it. They make stuff go wrong.” [13]
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Expert Source
Glynis McCants
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2Friday the 13th is seen as lucky in some cultures. In France, Friday the 13th is thought of as a lucky day for gamblers. More people in France buy lottery tickets on Friday the 13th than on any other day. The French lottery, called La Française des Jeux, is also referred to as "jour de chance,” or “lucky day.”
- In Italy, the number 17 is actually considered unlucky. This belief dates back to the Roman numeral XVII (17), translating to "VIXI," meaning "I have lived" or "my life is over."
- Ancient cultures, including the Mayans, Chinese, and Egyptians, saw the number 13 as positive and associated it with unity.
Expert Q&A
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References
- ↑ https://www.newsweek.com/friday-13th-quotes-memes-help-celebrate-our-favorite-unlucky-day-1492013
- ↑ https://rebeccascountrynotes.com/2023/01/12/13-quotes-for-friday-the-13th/
- ↑ Naiquan Midyett. Cosplayer. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2024/09/13/happy-friday-the-13th-history-origin-meaning-superstitions/75203297007/
- ↑ https://www.msj.edu/news/2024/02/the-power-of-black-cats.html
- ↑ https://sc.edu/uofsc/posts/2021/06/06_conversation_broken_mirror.php
- ↑ https://dahenneman.com/2023/01/07/superstitions-tossing-salt-over-shoulder/
- ↑ https://thesciencesurvey.com/spotlight/2023/03/09/the-history-and-culture-of-superstitions/
- ↑ https://www.farmersalmanac.com/13-ways-to-improve-your-luck-this-friday-the-13th
- ↑ https://www.farmersalmanac.com/13-ways-to-improve-your-luck-this-friday-the-13th
- ↑ https://www.farmersalmanac.com/13-ways-to-improve-your-luck-this-friday-the-13th
- ↑ https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2024/09/13/happy-friday-the-13th-history-origin-meaning-superstitions/75203297007/
- ↑ Glynis McCants. Master Numerologist. Expert Interview
- ↑ Leza Labrador. Magic and Manifestation Expert. Expert Interview