November 13, 2020, marks the second Friday the 13th in 2020. The first one was on March 13. I had no idea when I updated the Weird Holidays & Observances page this year that Friday the 13ths in 2020 would be so memorable…or scary.
Well, time will tell if this second (and last) Friday the 13th in 2020 will be memorable or not. The first one was a bit overshadowed by a lot of breaking news. Maybe this headline from the Miami Herald sums it up best:
March Friday the 13th 2020 Headlines
News is constantly happening, but back then (doesn’t it feel like 100 years ago now?) it seemed to be a never-ending barrage of big stories. Here are just a few of the things that were making news back then:
- The novel coronavirus pandemic we all now know as COVID-19 was just getting underway in earnest in the U.S.
- The stock market was reeling after having endured the worst crash since the Black Monday crash of 1987.
- The presidential primaries were happening (or were trying to).
- The NBA and NHL had postponed their seasons; March Madness was canceled.
- Schools were starting to close.
- Cruise lines started canceling cruises and were beginning to bring those already out to sea back in.
Do bad things happen on Friday the 13th?
A couple of years ago, Insider shared 17 examples of bad things that had happened on Friday the 13ths. The list included everything from murders and natural disasters to plane crashes and the birth of the Ku Klux Klan’s first Grand Wizard.
There wasn’t anything definitively spectacular or singular that happened on March 13, 2020. It was more a matter of there were a bunch of things that were very unsettled.
The second Friday the 13th in 2020 is shaping up similarly and is not slacking for spooky news stories, the two biggest of which dominating so far are:
- Coronavirus cases topped new records the day before.
- President Trump still refuses to concede to President-elect Biden amidst unproven accusations of voter fraud.
However, there’s also been some good news, if not on November 13, 2020, at least during the week: a vaccine is ready and awaiting approval!
As I’m writing this, the day’s not over so there’s no telling where it will end up or what might happen, but maybe it doesn’t hurt to be a little cautious and show some respect to the superstition?
Not All Bad
Just so I’m not ending on a doom and gloom note (because we’ve had more than enough of that in 2020), let’s look at the other side of the coin. Because there are always two sides (at least) to every story and Friday the 13th is no exception.
In addition to noting that the Dutch Center for Insurance Statistics determined Friday the 13th is actually statistically safer than other Fridays, Insider also shared 13 wonderful things that have happened on Friday the 13ths.
Although, some of what they deem “wonderful” is questionable. “Bad” isn’t usually ambiguous. Murder, death, and disasters are pretty obviously bad. Good, however, sometimes proves a little more subjective.
They tried, though. They found several famous people who were born on Friday the 13th, like the Olsen twins (June 13, 1986) and Steve Buscemi (December 13, 1957), and noted that Malta became a republic on December 13, 1974. Birthdays usually are a time of celebration, but they’re usually also only significant for those having them and their loved ones, and in some cases diehard fans. In general, most people wouldn’t categorize these are “wonderful” events.
Their picks got more obscure from there and included everything from the first female pilot instructor becoming certified (Evelyn “Pinky” Kilgare-Brier on October 13, 1939) to dinosaur eggs being discovered (July 13, 1923), the Olympics returning to their home country (August 13, 2004), the Hollywood sign being dedicated (July 13, 1923), and the third installment in the Friday the 13th franchise was released (August 13, 1982).
All of which are interesting Friday the 13th facts, but wonderful? Not so sure about that.
Does it matter which month Friday the 13th happens in?
But you know the trend I noticed between the two good and bad Friday the 13th events that Insider featured?
A lot of summer Friday the 13th “good” things happened, mainly in August.
January and October seemed to have the most “bad” Friday the 13th events.
Does the month influence whether a Friday the 13th will be good or bad?
Or am I just trying to find a pattern where one might not exist? Kind of like how people try to find superstitions where they don’t exist?
I don’t know, but I still think I’ll play it safe and be cautious today anyway. What about you?
Check-In
Are you superstitious about Friday the 13th?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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I’m not superstitious about Friday the 13th, but I totally get it because so many bad things happen to occur on that day. It’s pretty cool that Insider lists several GOOD things that have happened on Friday the 13ths.
I’m glad someone else thought listing good things was a fun change of pace too!