May Hosts Friday the 13th in 2016 and Other 21st Century Fun Facts

Summary: The merry month of May hosts Friday the 13th in 2016 as the year's solitary coincidence of the date of 13 with the weekday of Friday.

May is the only month with a Friday the 13th date in 2016: First National Bank @FNBOmaha, via Twitter Nov. 13, 2015

The only instance of Friday the 13th in 2016 occurs in May. Depending upon personal feelings, the coincidence of the fifth weekday with the month's 13th day may brighten, darken or not at all impact the merry month of May.

The minimum number of Friday the 13th occurrences in a year is one. The most recent year with the minimal number of Friday the 13th appearances was June 2014. The next instance of a solitary annual appearance of Friday the 13th takes place in August 2021.

The maximum number of appearances by Friday the 13th is three. The most recent banner year for maximum number of Friday the 13th days occurred in 2015. The next banner year, with three instances of Friday the 13th occurs in 2026. The banner year is sandwiched between two years, 2027 and 2028, that each feature only one occurrence of Friday the 13th.

In the 21st century, which runs from Jan. 1, 2001, to Dec. 31, 2100, Friday falls on the 13th day of the month 172 times. Friday the 13th makes a one-time appearance in 43 years of the 21st century. Friday the 13th makes double appearances in 42 years of the 21st century. Friday falling on the month's 13th day makes triple appearances in 15 years of the 21st century.

In the 43 years with a solitary appearance by Friday the 13th, winter is the only season in which Friday the 13th is a no-show. The seasonal monopoly of Friday the 13th is restricted to the late spring month of May, the summer months of June and August, and the mid-autumn month of October.

June is the most popular month for solitary annual appearances. Friday the 13th solos in June for 15 years: 2003, 2008, 2014, 2025, 2031, 2036, 2042, 2053, 2059, 2064, 2070, 2081, 2087, 2092, 2098.

Friday the 13th claims May for 14 of the 43 years of solitary appearances: 2005, 2011, 2016, 2022, 2033, 2039, 2044, 2050, 2061, 2067, 2072, 2078, 2089, 2095.

Friday the 13th occurs in August in 11 of the 43 years: 2010, 2021, 2027, 2038, 2049, 2055, 2066, 2077, 2083, 2094, 2100.

Friday the 13th happens in October in only three of the 43 years: 2028, 2056, 2084.

Five pairings of 10 months characterize the 42 years that exhibit two appearances of Friday the 13th. Only May and June are not represented in the lineup.

The pairing of September with December claims the most annual appearances. Friday the 13th falls in September and December in 14 of the 42 years: 2002, 2013, 2019, 2024, 2030, 2041, 2047, 2052, 2058, 2069, 2075, 2080, 2086, 2097.

The pairing of April with July occurs in 11 years: 2001, 2007, 2018, 2029, 2035, 2046, 2057, 2063, 2074, 2085, 2091.

Ten years feature the pairing of January with October as host months for Friday the 13th: 2006, 2017, 2023, 2034, 2045, 2051, 2062, 2073, 2079, 2090.

Friday the 13th appears in the pairing of February with August in four years: 2004, 2032, 2060, 2088.

The pairing of March with November trails in last place. The pairing occurs in only three years: 2020, 2048, 2076.

Of the 15 years featuring three Friday the 13ths, four are leap years with New Year's Day falling on Sunday. For those years, Friday the 13th makes predictable appearances in the months of January, April and July. As non-leap years, the other 11 years open the year on Thursday. Their Friday the 13ths predictably occur in the months of February, March and November.

Throughout the 21st century, the five months most often entertaining Friday the 13th are February, April, June, July and August. Each of the five claims 15 years as host month for Friday the 13th.

The 21st century bestows 14 annual appearances apiece on six months: January, March, May, September, November, December.

Although last in the tally of appearances by Friday the 13th, October consolidates the day's lucky, neutral or unlucky status by way of 13 years as host month in the 21st century.

The bottom line is that there is only one chance to love, hate or be indifferent to Friday the 13th in 2016. That day, whether it is lucky, unlucky or just another day, claims the merry month of May in 2016.

"Friday the 13th" by American graphic artist Rea Irvin (Aug. 26, 1881-May 28, 1972) for Life Magazine's Hoodoo Number, June 12, 1913: farmersmarkets @farmersmarkets, via Twitter May 9, 2016

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

May is the only month with a Friday the 13th date in 2016: First National Bank @FNBOmaha, via Twitter Nov. 13, 2015, @ https://twitter.com/FNBOmaha/status/665181998420377602

"Friday the 13th" by American graphic artist Rea Irvin (Aug. 26, 1881-May 28, 1972) for Life Magazine's Hoodoo Number, June 12, 1913: farmersmarkets @farmersmarkets, via Twitter May 9, 2016, @ https://twitter.com/farmersmarkets/status/729838133777326080

For further information:

farmersmarkets‏ @farmersmarkets. "Notable Events: Friday the 13th. There is but one Friday the 13th in 2016. It occurs in May." Twitter. May 9, 2016.
Available @ https://twitter.com/farmersmarkets/status/729838133777326080

First National Bank @FNBOmaha. "Happy Friday the 13th! We'll have to wait until May 13, 2016 for the next "unlucky" date." Twitter. Nov. 13, 2015.
Available @ https://twitter.com/FNBOmaha/status/665181998420377602

Marriner, Derdriu. "Friday the 13th: Paraskevidekatriaphobics or Friggatriskaidekaphobics." Earth and Space News. Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2015/02/friday-13th-bad-for-paraskevidekatriaph.html