Fridays the 13th set to occur twice in 2024, sparking superstitions

A Friday that falls on the 13th occurs one to three times each year, and in 2024, it will happen twice—in September and December. For superstitious individuals, Fridays that fall on the 13th are considered particularly unlucky. While it remains unclear if more accidents occur on these days, several notable events have taken place on Fridays the 13th over the years:

On May 13, 1927, the German stock market crashed, a day that became known as “Black Friday.” This collapse marked an early sign of the global economic depression of the 1930s.

On September 13, 1940, German forces bombed Buckingham Palace in London, where Queen Elizabeth and King George were reportedly present and having tea. The attack resulted in three injuries, including one fatality. The palace was bombed multiple times during World War II but sustained only minor damage.

On October 13, 1972, a plane crashed in the Andes mountains along the Argentina-Chile border. Among the passengers were members of a Uruguayan rugby team, as well as friends and family.

On September 13, 1996, American rapper Tupac Shakur succumbed to injuries sustained in a shooting days earlier while traveling to perform at Club 662 in Las Vegas.

On January 13, 2012, the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia ran aground off the island of Giglio, resulting in 32 fatalities. The ship’s captain was later sentenced to 16 years in prison.

The video above features ethnologist Jonas Engman discussing the reasons some individuals feel uneasy about Fridays the 13th.