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February 13, 2026, is a Friday, ushering in Act I of this year’s epic Friday the 13th trilogy. Plus, we’ll also have a Friday the 13th in March and November. To start things off, we’ll have a Friday the 13th in February, exactly 4 weeks before Friday, March 13, 2026!
Not that we at EarthSky suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia – an irrational fear of Friday the 13th – but, gosh darn, it’s Friday the 13th three times over in 2026. What’s more, last year’s lone Friday the 13th on June 13, 2025, occurred exactly 39 weeks (3 x 13 weeks) before the Friday the 13th in March 2026. And next year’s lone Friday the 13th on August 13, 2027, will happen exactly 39 weeks (3 x 13 weeks) after the Friday the 13th in November 2026. Follow the links below to learn more about why some people fear this day and about 2015’s three Friday the 13ths.
Scary coincidence or super unlucky?
It’s neither a scary coincidence or super unlucky. It’s just a quirk of our calendar, as you’ll see if you keep reading.
The fact is that, according to folklorists, there’s no written evidence that Friday the 13th was considered unlucky before the 19th century. The earliest known documented reference in English appears to be in Henry Sutherland Edwards’ 1869 biography of Gioachino Rossini. His portrait is above. He doesn’t look scary.
And indeed, Friday has always gotten a bad rap. In the Middle Ages, people would not marry – or set out on a journey – on a Friday.
There are also some links between Christianity and an ill association with either Fridays or the number 13. Jesus was said to be crucified on a Friday. Seating 13 people at a table was seen as bad luck because Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, is said to have been the 13th guest at the Last Supper. Meanwhile, our word for Friday comes from Frigga, an ancient Scandinavian fertility and love goddess. Christians called Frigga a witch and Friday the witches’ Sabbath.
In modern times, the slasher-movie franchise Friday the 13th has helped keep friggatriskaidekaphobia alive.
In 2026, blame Thursday
In 2026, you can blame Thursday because the year started on a Thursday. Whenever a common year of 365 days starts on a Thursday, it’s inevitable that the months of February, March and November will start on a Sunday. And any month starting on a Sunday always has a Friday the 13th.
Of course, February has exactly four weeks in a non-leap year. So, for that reason, the days of the week have to match up with the same dates in both February and March during any common year. And in any year, the days of the week always fall on the same dates in both March and November. In short, because the year 2026 started on a Thursday, that means February, March and November all have to start on a Sunday and all must have a Friday the 13th.
The February-March-November Friday the 13th trilogy repeats …
How often does the February-March-November Friday the 13th trilogy repeat? More often than you might imagine! The last February-March-November Friday the 13th year happened 11 years ago, in 2015, for the second time in the 21st century (2001-2100). It will next happen eleven years from now, in 2037. After that, the following February-March-November Friday the 13th year will happen six years after 2037, in the year 2043.
A grand total of eleven February-March-November Friday the 13th years takes place in the 21st century (2001-2100):
2009, 2015, 2026, 2037, 2043, 2054, 2065, 2071, 2082, 2093 and 2099
And because the Gregorian calendar has a 400-year cycle, we also know the February-March-November Friday the 13th years will repeat exactly 400 years later in the 25th century (2401-2500):
2409, 2415, 2426, 2437, 2443, 2454, 2465, 2471, 2482, 2493 and 2499
Calendar for 2026
The rhyme and reason of the Friday the 13th cycle
Is there any rhyme and reason to the Friday the 13th cycle? Yes, it does make sense. Within the 21st century (2001-2100), note that the February-March-November Friday the 13th years repeat in 28-year cycles (going crosswise):
2009, 2037, 2065, 2093
2015, 2043, 2071, 2099
2026, 2054, 2082
Because the Gregorian calendar suppresses the leap year in 2100, the cycle is perturbed, meaning that all eleven February-March-November Friday the 13th years in the 22nd century (2101-2200) come four years earlier than in the 21st century:
2105, 2111, 2122, 2133, 2139, 2150, 2161, 2167, 2178, 2189 and 2195.
However, within the 22nd century (2101-2200), these Friday the 13th years also repeat in cycles of 28 years.
2105, 2133, 2161, 2189
2111, 2139, 2167, 2195
2122, 2150, 2178
The cycle is perturbed again in the 23rd century (2201-2300):
2201, 2229, 2257, 2285
2207, 2235, 2263, 2291
2218, 2246, 2274
And again in the 24th century (2301-2400):
2303, 2331, 2359, 2387
2314, 2342, 2370, 2398
2325, 2353, 2381
Friday-the-13th-year repetitions within 28-year cycle
Some of you, who might not yet be dazed by calendar numerology, may wonder if some formula governs how a given Friday the 13th year repeats within the 28-year cycle. The answer is a definite yes. Keep in mind that this particular February-March-November Friday the 13th year can only happen in a common year of 365 days, and when January 1 falls on a Thursday.
Therefore, if this threefold Friday the 13th year comes one year after a leap year, the days again match up with the dates in 6, 17 and 28 years afterward. For example, take the year 2009, which comes one year after a leap year:
2009, 2015, 2026, 2037
However, if this triple Friday the 13th year falls two years after a leap year, the days and dates realign in 11, 17 and 28 years. Take the year 2026, which takes place two years after a leap year:
2026, 2037, 2043, 2054
Finally, if this trio of Friday the 13ths happens three years after a leap year, the days recur with the same dates in 11, 22 and 28 years. The year 2015 happens three years after a leap year:
2015, 2026, 2037, 2043
It appears as though cycles of 372 and 400 years prevail over the long course of centuries. Take the year 2015, for instance:
2015 + 372 = 2387
2015 + 400 = 2415
The 372-year period is known as the Gregoriana eclipse cycle, which we elaborate about in our post: How often does a solar eclipse happen on the March equinox?.
Can three Friday the 13ths occur in a leap year?
What about three Friday the 13ths in a leap year? Yes, a leap year can harbor three Friday the 13ths (January 13 – April 13 – July 13) if the leap year starts on a Sunday, which last happened in 2012. However, given that this particular Friday the 13th year happens in a leap year, and a leap year only, it recurs only in periods of 28 years. So the last January-April-July Friday the 13th year happened in 1984, and will next happen in 2040.
If a common year starts on a Thursday, there are three Friday the 13ths; and if a leap year begins on a Sunday, there are three Friday the 13ths. So these are the two scenarios whereby three Friday the 13ths can occur in single calendar year.
Bottom line: From what we have been able to gather, the 400-year cycle displayed by Gregorian calendar features 59 years with three Friday the 13ths, consisting of 44 common years (February – March – November Friday the 13ths) and 15 leap years (January – April – July Friday the 13ths).
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The post 2026 has 3 Friday the 13ths. What are the odds? first appeared on EarthSky.
from EarthSky https://ift.tt/EW7aMDo
EarthSky’s 2026 lunar calendar is available now. Get yours today! Makes a great gift.
February 13, 2026, is a Friday, ushering in Act I of this year’s epic Friday the 13th trilogy. Plus, we’ll also have a Friday the 13th in March and November. To start things off, we’ll have a Friday the 13th in February, exactly 4 weeks before Friday, March 13, 2026!
Not that we at EarthSky suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia – an irrational fear of Friday the 13th – but, gosh darn, it’s Friday the 13th three times over in 2026. What’s more, last year’s lone Friday the 13th on June 13, 2025, occurred exactly 39 weeks (3 x 13 weeks) before the Friday the 13th in March 2026. And next year’s lone Friday the 13th on August 13, 2027, will happen exactly 39 weeks (3 x 13 weeks) after the Friday the 13th in November 2026. Follow the links below to learn more about why some people fear this day and about 2015’s three Friday the 13ths.
Scary coincidence or super unlucky?
It’s neither a scary coincidence or super unlucky. It’s just a quirk of our calendar, as you’ll see if you keep reading.
The fact is that, according to folklorists, there’s no written evidence that Friday the 13th was considered unlucky before the 19th century. The earliest known documented reference in English appears to be in Henry Sutherland Edwards’ 1869 biography of Gioachino Rossini. His portrait is above. He doesn’t look scary.
And indeed, Friday has always gotten a bad rap. In the Middle Ages, people would not marry – or set out on a journey – on a Friday.
There are also some links between Christianity and an ill association with either Fridays or the number 13. Jesus was said to be crucified on a Friday. Seating 13 people at a table was seen as bad luck because Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, is said to have been the 13th guest at the Last Supper. Meanwhile, our word for Friday comes from Frigga, an ancient Scandinavian fertility and love goddess. Christians called Frigga a witch and Friday the witches’ Sabbath.
In modern times, the slasher-movie franchise Friday the 13th has helped keep friggatriskaidekaphobia alive.
In 2026, blame Thursday
In 2026, you can blame Thursday because the year started on a Thursday. Whenever a common year of 365 days starts on a Thursday, it’s inevitable that the months of February, March and November will start on a Sunday. And any month starting on a Sunday always has a Friday the 13th.
Of course, February has exactly four weeks in a non-leap year. So, for that reason, the days of the week have to match up with the same dates in both February and March during any common year. And in any year, the days of the week always fall on the same dates in both March and November. In short, because the year 2026 started on a Thursday, that means February, March and November all have to start on a Sunday and all must have a Friday the 13th.
The February-March-November Friday the 13th trilogy repeats …
How often does the February-March-November Friday the 13th trilogy repeat? More often than you might imagine! The last February-March-November Friday the 13th year happened 11 years ago, in 2015, for the second time in the 21st century (2001-2100). It will next happen eleven years from now, in 2037. After that, the following February-March-November Friday the 13th year will happen six years after 2037, in the year 2043.
A grand total of eleven February-March-November Friday the 13th years takes place in the 21st century (2001-2100):
2009, 2015, 2026, 2037, 2043, 2054, 2065, 2071, 2082, 2093 and 2099
And because the Gregorian calendar has a 400-year cycle, we also know the February-March-November Friday the 13th years will repeat exactly 400 years later in the 25th century (2401-2500):
2409, 2415, 2426, 2437, 2443, 2454, 2465, 2471, 2482, 2493 and 2499
Calendar for 2026
The rhyme and reason of the Friday the 13th cycle
Is there any rhyme and reason to the Friday the 13th cycle? Yes, it does make sense. Within the 21st century (2001-2100), note that the February-March-November Friday the 13th years repeat in 28-year cycles (going crosswise):
2009, 2037, 2065, 2093
2015, 2043, 2071, 2099
2026, 2054, 2082
Because the Gregorian calendar suppresses the leap year in 2100, the cycle is perturbed, meaning that all eleven February-March-November Friday the 13th years in the 22nd century (2101-2200) come four years earlier than in the 21st century:
2105, 2111, 2122, 2133, 2139, 2150, 2161, 2167, 2178, 2189 and 2195.
However, within the 22nd century (2101-2200), these Friday the 13th years also repeat in cycles of 28 years.
2105, 2133, 2161, 2189
2111, 2139, 2167, 2195
2122, 2150, 2178
The cycle is perturbed again in the 23rd century (2201-2300):
2201, 2229, 2257, 2285
2207, 2235, 2263, 2291
2218, 2246, 2274
And again in the 24th century (2301-2400):
2303, 2331, 2359, 2387
2314, 2342, 2370, 2398
2325, 2353, 2381
Friday-the-13th-year repetitions within 28-year cycle
Some of you, who might not yet be dazed by calendar numerology, may wonder if some formula governs how a given Friday the 13th year repeats within the 28-year cycle. The answer is a definite yes. Keep in mind that this particular February-March-November Friday the 13th year can only happen in a common year of 365 days, and when January 1 falls on a Thursday.
Therefore, if this threefold Friday the 13th year comes one year after a leap year, the days again match up with the dates in 6, 17 and 28 years afterward. For example, take the year 2009, which comes one year after a leap year:
2009, 2015, 2026, 2037
However, if this triple Friday the 13th year falls two years after a leap year, the days and dates realign in 11, 17 and 28 years. Take the year 2026, which takes place two years after a leap year:
2026, 2037, 2043, 2054
Finally, if this trio of Friday the 13ths happens three years after a leap year, the days recur with the same dates in 11, 22 and 28 years. The year 2015 happens three years after a leap year:
2015, 2026, 2037, 2043
It appears as though cycles of 372 and 400 years prevail over the long course of centuries. Take the year 2015, for instance:
2015 + 372 = 2387
2015 + 400 = 2415
The 372-year period is known as the Gregoriana eclipse cycle, which we elaborate about in our post: How often does a solar eclipse happen on the March equinox?.
Can three Friday the 13ths occur in a leap year?
What about three Friday the 13ths in a leap year? Yes, a leap year can harbor three Friday the 13ths (January 13 – April 13 – July 13) if the leap year starts on a Sunday, which last happened in 2012. However, given that this particular Friday the 13th year happens in a leap year, and a leap year only, it recurs only in periods of 28 years. So the last January-April-July Friday the 13th year happened in 1984, and will next happen in 2040.
If a common year starts on a Thursday, there are three Friday the 13ths; and if a leap year begins on a Sunday, there are three Friday the 13ths. So these are the two scenarios whereby three Friday the 13ths can occur in single calendar year.
Bottom line: From what we have been able to gather, the 400-year cycle displayed by Gregorian calendar features 59 years with three Friday the 13ths, consisting of 44 common years (February – March – November Friday the 13ths) and 15 leap years (January – April – July Friday the 13ths).
Enjoying EarthSky so far? Sign up for our free daily newsletter today!
The post 2026 has 3 Friday the 13ths. What are the odds? first appeared on EarthSky.
from EarthSky https://ift.tt/EW7aMDo
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