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Culture & Folklore
Friday the 13th? Italians Don't Care.
The real unlucky day in Italy — and other superstitions that still shape daily life
2025 5 min read For Americans
If you are an American who gets nervous when the 13th falls on a Friday, prepare for a surprise: Italians do not care about Friday the 13th at all.
In Italy, the number to avoid is 17. And the unlucky day is Friday the 17th. Some buildings skip the 17th floor entirely. Some hospitals do not have room 17. And on the rare occasion that the 17th falls on a Friday, you will see even rational Italians double-checking their travel plans.
Why 17? The answer is a beautiful piece of linguistic wordplay that goes back to ancient Rome. And it is just one of many Italian superstitions that still shape daily life in ways Americans rarely notice.
Friday the 13th vs. Friday the 17th
In the United States
Friday the 13th is unlucky. Hotels skip room 13. Horror movies are built around it.
In Italy
Friday the 17th is unlucky. Hotels skip room 17. The number is avoided in addresses and phone numbers.
Why?
XVII rearranges to VIXI ("I have lived" = death). Thirteen has no special meaning in Italian culture.
The Twist
Thanks to American movies and globalization, some younger Italians now also consider 13 unlucky — but 17 remains the true Italian unlucky number.
Italian Superstitions You Will Encounter
Friday the 17th Is the Real Unlucky Day
In Italy, 17 is written as XVII in Roman numerals. Rearrange the letters and you get VIXI — Latin for "I have lived," which implies death. For this reason, many Italian buildings skip room 17, and Friday the 17th is treated with the same caution Americans reserve for Friday the 13th.
Origin: Roman numerals and Latin wordplay
Spilling Olive Oil Is Bad Luck
Olive oil has been a symbol of prosperity and health in Italy for millennia. Spilling it is seen as wasting a blessing. If you knock over an oil bottle at an Italian table, expect a quick "scaramanzia" (warding off the evil eye) gesture from your host.
Origin: Ancient Roman and agricultural tradition
Hats on Beds Are Forbidden
Placing a hat on a bed is considered deeply unlucky in southern Italy. The superstition dates back to when priests placed their hats on the beds of the dying to signal last rites. Today, even tossing a cap onto a hotel bed will earn a quick correction from an Italian grandmother.
Origin: Catholic funeral tradition
Never Toast with Water
Toasting with water instead of wine is believed to bring bad luck or even death. The tradition comes from ancient Greece, where warriors toasted with wine before battle. Water was reserved for the dead. Italians take this seriously — always have wine, juice, or soda ready for a toast.
Origin: Ancient Greek military tradition
The Evil Eye (Malocchio)
The malocchio is the belief that jealousy or envy can cause physical harm. If someone compliments your child, your health, or your success too enthusiastically, an Italian may quietly mutter under their breath to ward off the evil eye. Some still wear a cornicello (little horn) amulet for protection.
Origin: Ancient Mediterranean folk belief
Never Cross Tools on the Floor
Leaving a broom and a rake crossed on the floor symbolizes the crucifix and is considered deeply disrespectful. It is also believed to bring misfortune to the household. In rural Italy, tools are always stored separately and upright.
Origin: Catholic symbolism and rural tradition
Lucky Charms You Will See Everywhere
Il Cornicello
A small red horn-shaped amulet, usually worn as a necklace or hung in cars and homes. It protects against the evil eye and bad luck.
La Mano Cornuta
The "horned hand" gesture — index and pinky fingers extended, thumb over the middle fingers. Worn as jewelry or used as a protective sign against bad luck.
Il Ferro di Cavallo
The horseshoe, hung upside-down over doorways so the luck pours into the home. Common in rural Tuscany and Umbria.
What This Means for Travelers
Italian superstitions are not just folklore — they are woven into everyday behavior. If your hotel room number is 17 and you notice it is actually room 18, that is not a mistake. It is a deliberate skip. If a shopkeeper refuses to let you put a hat on the counter, they are not being rude — they are warding off bad luck.
The best thing you can do as a traveler is observe, smile, and respect the tradition. Do not mock the superstitions. Do not insist on room 17 because it is "just a number." Italians take these beliefs seriously, even the ones who claim they do not.
And if someone gives you a cornicello as a gift? Wear it. It is not just a trinket — it is a blessing.
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