Friday the 13th: Spooky Superstition or Just Another Day in Salisbury?

For some, it’s just another square on the calendar. For others, it’s a day to tread lightly, avoid ladders and maybe keep an eye out for black cats.

Friday the 13th has long carried a reputation for bad luck, mysterious happenings and eerie coincidences. But where did the superstition come from and does it really hold any power here in Rowan County?

Why Friday the 13th?

The fear of Friday the 13th is so common it even has a name: paraskevidekatriaphobia. While that may be a mouthful, the anxiety behind it is surprisingly widespread.

The number 13 has often been viewed as unlucky in Western cultures. Many buildings skip the 13th floor. Some airlines avoid labeling a 13th row. Combine that with Friday  historically associated with misfortune in certain traditions  and you have a date that makes some people uneasy.

Pop culture has only fueled the legend. The 1980 horror classic “Friday the 13th” turned the date into a symbol of cinematic terror, spawning sequels and a masked villain who still appears in Halloween costumes decades later.

Local Superstitions in Salisbury

Here in Salisbury, most residents seem to take the day in stride. Downtown shops stay open. Coffee flows as usual. Traffic hums along Innes Street without supernatural interruption.

Still, ask around and you’ll find stories:

• A restaurant owner who swears sales dip ever so slightly.

• A lifelong resident who refuses to schedule doctor’s appointments on the 13th.

• A teenager who plans horror movie marathons every time the date rolls around.

It’s less about fear and more about tradition  a shared cultural wink that makes the day feel just a bit different.

Bad Luck… or Big Business?

Ironically, Friday the 13th can be good luck for some.

Tattoo parlors across the country often run “Friday the 13th specials,” offering discounted designs. Horror streaming numbers tend to climb. Retailers sometimes lean into the theme with flash sales and spooky promotions.

Psychologists say part of the phenomenon may be self-fulfilling prophecy. If we expect something to go wrong, we’re more likely to notice small inconveniences and blame them on the date.

Spilled coffee? Friday the 13th.
Missed the green light? Of course it’s today.

But when everything goes right, we rarely credit the calendar.

Should You Be Worried?

Statistically speaking, there’s no solid evidence that Friday the 13th is more dangerous than any other day. Insurance claims, accident rates and emergency calls don’t show consistent spikes tied to the date.

In fact, some researchers suggest people may act more cautiously on Friday the 13th driving more carefully and paying closer attention — which could actually make it safer.

Turning Fear Into Fun

Instead of dreading it, many Salisbury residents choose to embrace the playful side of the superstition:

• Host a scary movie night.

• Share local ghost stories.

• Wear black just for fun.

• Buy a lottery ticket just in case luck swings the other way.

As the calendar turns and the 13th lands on a Friday once more, Salisbury will likely do what it always does: carry on. Maybe with a raised eyebrow. Maybe with a grin.

And if nothing unusual happens?

Well, that might be the biggest surprise of all.