This Bad-Luck Belief Now Has Minnesota Totally Spooked

We Minnesotans pride ourselves on being Minnesota Nice, but something about this Friday has people second-guessing ladders, mirrors, and even their daily routines. With the first of three Friday the 13ths in 2026 arriving this week, a new look at our state’s most common superstition reveals what really makes us uneasy in the North Star State.

It seems like many residents of the Land of 10,000 Lakes don't think too much about superstitions until they're presented with one of those stereotypical things that are supposed to be bad luck, like Friday the 13th. And if that date freaks you out, I have bad news for you: there are three Friday the 13ths set to occur in 2026, with the first on the way this week.

Why 2026 is a "Spooky" Year for Minnesota

Friday the 13ths Occurring in 2026:

• Friday, February 13
• Friday, March 13
• Friday, November 13

If it seems like it's been a while since we encountered that date, that's because there was only one Friday the 13th in 2025, and it happened in June. Before that, in 2024, there were only two Friday the 13ths in 2024, both of which fell in the last quarter, in September and December.

ALSO INTERESTING: Not Just Luck-- Minnesotans Have Best Credit Scores in U.S.

Before we go too much further, though, a quick diversion to point out that whenever I hear the word 'superstition,' I'm always reminded of Steve Carell's character from The Office. Check out Michael Scott's unique view on being 'superstitious':

I'm not hugely superstitious myself, although when we were updating our master bathroom recently, and I was taking our old big bathroom mirror to the Olmsted County Recycling Center, I made sure NOT to break it! (I guess, just like Michael Scott, I, too, am a 'little stitious...')

Revealing Minnesota's Most Common Superstition

But overall, just what is the most common superstition here in Minnesota? Well, the crew over at a TV station in Memphis did a survey on which superstitions were the most common in each state. They looked at over 200 different superstitious things we do and compiled the results.

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Here in the Gopher State, our most common superstition is Friday the 13th. Friday the 13th is also the most common superstition in Colorado, Virginia, and Tennessee. Over in my home state of Wisconsin, however, the most common superstition is 'bad luck comes in threes.' It was the second-most common superstition in the survey, also being common in Vermont, South Dakota, Montana, New Hampshire, and Nebraska.

Common Beliefs and Where to Find Good Luck in the Gopher State

So what's the most common superstition in the survey? That'd be 'throwing salt over your shoulder.' It was listed as the most common in 17 different states.  Other common superstitions the survey found included lucky pennies, owls, a ladybug landing on you, a lucky rabbit's foot, and lucky prime numbers.

Now, on the other hand, if you're looking for good luck-- and who isn't, right?-- keep scrolling to check out a list of cities that have had the most lottery winners here in Minnesota-- in case you're even a LITTLE superstitious and want to head there to buy your next Powerball or lottery ticket!