# Cultural origins of Tuesday the 13th superstitions

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/cultural-origins-of-tuesday-the-13th-superstitions
> Updated: 2026-10-13T03:21:00.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

The superstition regarding Tuesday the 13th is attributed to a combination of Roman mythology and Christian tradition. The day is historically linked to Mars, the Roman god of war, which associates the date with destruction and conflict. This has led to the Spanish proverb ‘en martes, ni te cases ni te embarques’, advising against weddings or new journeys on this day.

The number 13 is viewed as a disruption of the symbolic completeness of the number 12 and is often linked to the Last Supper, where Judas Iscariot was the thirteenth guest. While Anglo-Saxon cultures typically fear Friday the 13th, the specific fear of Tuesday the 13th is termed ‘trezidavomartiofobia’. There is no scientific evidence to support the existence of bad luck associated with the date.

## Claims

- Tuesday is historically associated with Mars, the Roman god of war. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The number 13 is linked to the Last Supper and Judas Iscariot being the thirteenth guest. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- There is no scientific evidence that Tuesday the 13th causes bad luck. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13. (single source)
- Trezidavomartiofobia is the specific fear of Tuesday the 13th. (single source)
- Anglo-Saxon countries typically associate bad luck with Friday the 13th. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-13: Origins and cultural superstitions of Tuesday the 13th

Tuesday the 13th is widely regarded as unlucky in Spanish and Latin American cultures due to historical links to the god Mars and the number 13, though no scientific evidence supports these superstitions.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/origins-and-cultural-superstitions-of-tuesday-the-13th

### 2026-10-11: Cultural origins of Tuesday the 13th superstitions

The superstition of Tuesday the 13th stems from Roman associations with Mars, the god of war, and Christian traditions regarding the number thirteen and the Last Supper.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cultural-origins-of-tuesday-the-13th-superstitions

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Cite as: Cultural origins of Tuesday the 13th superstitions. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/cultural-origins-of-tuesday-the-13th-superstitions