The Allure of Tattoos on Friday the 13th

December 13 marked the final Friday the 13th of 2024, a date typically associated with caution for many individuals. However, this sentiment does not extend to those considering a tattoo. “Flash sales” featuring discounted small tattoos are a common occurrence at tattoo parlours globally on Friday the 13th. This raises the question of why individuals choose to undergo tattooing on such a day, whether due to fear, superstition, enjoyment, or simply the reduced cost. Ross Walker, a tattoo artist at A Sailor’s Grave in Belfast city centre, stated that Friday the 13th represents a significant day for the tattoo parlour. He remarked, “You can’t miss it, you’ve got to be prepping the battle stations at least a couple of weeks before hand.” Walker added, “It’s great fun, we are always looking forward to it. You feel like you are a part of history when you do it.” Numerous tattoo artists describe the day as “manic,” noting that “you never know what to expect.” Ross commented, “No matter how prepared you are there is always some unexpected turn around the corner.” He also characterized the experience as “a whole lot of craic with good clients.” The prospect of a small, more affordable tattoo can attract first-time clients, such as Joshua. He informed BBC News NI, “I’m here with my family, they said they were coming for a tattoo, so I thought I may as well and just jumped on the bandwagon.” Joshua further explained, “It is my first tattoo, I’m just getting a wee clover to start. Something small.” The question arose whether the date being Friday the 13th deterred him. Joshua responded, “Thirteen is one of my lucky numbers, so it doesn’t really make a difference to me what day it is on.” Ross concurred, describing it as a “good way to test the waters.” For other patrons, receiving a tattoo on this purportedly unlucky day is not a novel experience; Hannah Murray is an example. She stated, “It is tradition to go on Friday 13th to get some new tattoos and to be out for a good fun day with some friends.” Murray added, “Thirteen may be unlucky for some but I just thought I would transform the number and make it lucky for me.” Steve Roud, author of The Penguin Guide to the Superstitions of Britain and Ireland, previously informed BBC News that both Friday and the number 13 have historically been considered unlucky independently. He explained, “Because Friday was the day of the crucifixion, Fridays were always regarded as a day of penance and abstinence.” Roud noted, “This religious belief spilled over into a general dislike of starting anything – or doing anything important – on a Friday.” He further elaborated that to intensify the perception of misfortune, an urban legend emerged around the 1690s, suggesting that having 13 individuals at a table or in a group was unlucky. Folklorist Anne Marie Lagram, who identifies as a “strong believer,” also previously shared with BBC News that explanations for “unlucky 13” encompass the count of attendees at the Last Supper or the number of witches required for a coven. However, the author of the Country Wisdom and Folklore Diary stated that the Victorians were responsible for combining these two elements. She remarked, “They were intrigued by folklore and put Friday and 13 together and created a doubly unlucky day.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.