Texans might want to think twice before walking under ladders this Friday the 13th. A new study reveals the Lone Star State ranks second nationwide for “Bad Luck Odds” on the superstitious date, trailing only California with an implied misfortune probability of 5.36%.
The ranking comes from analysis of superstition-driven Google search spikes between 2020-2025, showing Texans are particularly wary when the calendar hits this dreaded combination. “Friday the 13th doesn’t change the actual odds,” a CSB analyst stated in their findings. “But in certain states, it clearly changes behavior.”
Triple Trouble Coming in 2026
Feeling anxious? The superstitious among us might want to prepare for 2026, when Texas will face a rare triple occurrence of Friday the 13th — hitting in February, March, and November, according to calendar analysis from state almanac records.
That’s three times the usual anxiety for those who take the day seriously. And many Texans do, with behavioral patterns showing significant shifts around these dates, from postponing travel to avoiding major decisions.
What exactly drives this persistent superstition? Psychologists point to cultural conditioning and confirmation bias — we remember the bad things that happen on Friday the 13th while forgetting the uneventful ones.
Turning Bad Luck into Good Business
For some Texans, Friday the 13th isn’t about avoiding bad luck — it’s about embracing it. Common superstitious behaviors include carrying lucky charms and, surprisingly, getting tattoos. Many tattoo parlors across Dallas, Houston, and Austin have capitalized on the tradition by offering special Friday the 13th discounts.
“We’re always packed on Friday the 13th,” says Miguel Ramirez, owner of Electric Needle Tattoo in Austin. “People believe getting inked on this day somehow captures the energy or wards off the bad luck. We’ll do hundreds of small designs, mostly number 13s, black cats, or other luck-related imagery.”
Some businesses even report sales increases of up to 30% during these supposedly unlucky days, suggesting Texans’ relationship with Friday the 13th is more complicated than simple avoidance.
Still, the question remains whether any of this affects actual outcomes. Insurance data shows no statistically significant increase in accidents or mishaps on these dates compared to other Fridays throughout the year.
For the truly superstitious Texans facing 2026’s triple threat, perhaps the best advice is what grandmother always said: if you’re worried about Friday the 13th, just don’t look for the bad luck and you might not find it.
