Friday the 13th is a day that is considered unlucky in Western superstition. It occurs when the 13th day of the month in the Gregorian calendar falls on a Friday, which happens at least once every year but can occur up to three times in the same year. In October 2023, the 13th day of the month falls on a Friday, which is considered spookier since it is in the spookiest month of the year. The superstition that the date is unlucky is widespread in Western culture and has inspired a horror movie franchise, a novel, and even a treatise from Stephen King. However, there is no scientific evidence to support the idea that Friday the 13th is unlucky. Fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia, while fear of Friday the 13th in particular is called paraskevidekatriaphobia. The origins of the superstition are unclear, but it may have been amplified by the slasher-movie series. The combination of Friday and the number 13 is a Victorian invention, and it wasnt until the 19th century that Friday the 13th became synonymous with misfortune. In pagan times, Friday was believed to have a unique association with the divine feminine, and the number 13 was regarded as a harbinger of good fortune.