The day Friday and the number 13 are individually considered unlucky in certain cultures and religions. Combining them intensifies the negative superstitions associated with each. Over the centuries, various historical events and literary works have continued propagating the fear around Friday the 13th.
Since Friday the 13th occurs at least once (and up to three times) every year, transforming it into a fun and lighthearted day for your kids can be a great way to dispel any negative superstitions and create happy memories.
We have five fun ways to celebrate Friday the 13th in a happy way — and maybe it will end up being your luckiest day this year!
1. Learn some new words.
Do you have paraskevidekatriaphobia?
That's a very fancy term for fear of Friday the 13th. It comes from the Greek words "paraskevi" (Friday) plus "deka" (ten) plus "tris" (three) plus "phobia" (fear).
Fear of the number 13 itself is triskaidekaphobia. Though you won't usually find the number 13 in public spaces such as room numbers or hotel floors, there are plenty of instances where 13 makes an impact:
- 13 weeks in each weather season
- 13 cards in each suit of a standard deck of playing cards
- 13 cycles (approximately) of the moon each year
- 13 items in a baker's dozen
- 13 stars, 13 arrows, 13 steps in the pyramid, and 13 letters in E Pluribus Unum on the US dollar bill
- 13 original US colonies which are represented by 13 stripes on the US flag
2. Make your own luck.
If we stop to think about it, superstitions are pretty silly. Why would spilling salt bring on bad luck, and how can throwing a pinch of it over your left shoulder reverse that luck? Is your left shoulder luckier than your right?
Defy the superstitions! Spill some salt and simply clean it up. Take a walk around your neighborhood and step on all the cracks. Open an umbrella inside your house, pause for dramatic effect, and then pass out cookies.
3. Promote positivity.
Perception plays a significant role in how we view life. When my children were little and having a rough day, we would read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. The book ends with the narrator saying, "It has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. My mom says some days are like that."
After we read the book, we would pretend to sleep, wake up again, and start our day over — even if it was 4:00 in the afternoon!
Encourage your kids to create and share positive affirmations to promote good luck and positivity. Write them on colorful paper, decorate the page with crayons or stickers, and hang them around your house. You can also draw pictures of good luck charms, like four-leaf clover artwork, horseshoe crafts, or wish-making stars.
4. Play games of chance.
Children's games based on luck rather than skill allow for an even playing field where anyone can win and create natural teachable moments. Plus, they are fun and a great way to bond as a family!
Play a game of Chutes and Ladders or Candy Land. Older kids might love The Game of Life. If you don't own these board games, grab a deck of cards and play War or Go Fish.
You can also flip a coin to make your daily decisions throughout the day. Should you have pancakes or scrambled eggs for breakfast? Should you wear red or blue today? Should you read a book or make a craft? Let the coins decide!
5. Have a movie night.
Thanks to Jason Voorhees and the Friday the 13th horror film franchise, this day has an especially spooky and bad luck feel to it. Oddly enough, there are only 12 movies in the Friday the 13th series. Perhaps 13 would've been unlucky...
Here are some of our favorite family-friendly movies that blend mysterious, superstitious, and fun elements, perfect for a movie night on Friday the 13th. Click the title of any film to borrow it from our Englewood Library.
- Freaky Friday (PG)
- Hocus Pocus (PG)
- Hotel Transylvania series (PG)
- Jinxed (J)
- The Road to El Dorado (PG)
- Scooby-Doo: The Movie (PG) and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (PG)
- The Addams Family and Addams Family Values (PG-13)
- The Witches (PG)
