Why people get inked on Friday the 13th

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Chris Bentley (0:18)

WBUR Podcasts, Boston.

John Andrews (0:23)

And so it's kind of like that talisman in superstition of warding off bad luck by saying, I'm already cursed, so go curse somebody else.

Chris Bentley (0:33)

From turn of the century sailors to modern day art enthusiasts, a lot of people get their tattoos on Friday the 13th.

It is Friday, November 13th, and this is Here & Now Anytime from NPR and WBUR. Today on the show, Julianna Glasse was a superstar evangelical Christian singer living a very conservative life subservient to her husband. But then she read Plato's Allegory of the Cave.

Julianna Glasse (1:13)

I thought to myself, I want to experience the light. I want to leave the cave. I want to know for myself what is true.

Chris Bentley (1:21)

Glasse discusses her memoir, This is What Happens When Women Read, coming up in a few minutes.

But first, it's Friday the 13th. While some people are stepping over cracks in the sidewalk and avoiding black cats, others are heading to their local tattoo shop. That includes our digital producer, Grace Griffin, who's been looking into the trend of Friday the 13th tattoos, which it turns out goes back a long time.

Grace Griffin (1:49)

Friday the 13th has become somewhat of a holiday in the American tattoo world.

Shops across the country offer all-day flash events, where patrons pick from a book of designs made special for the day. They're usually of the spooky or superstitious variety, and a little less expensive than typical tattoo prices.

Chris Bentley (2:07)

Hi.

Grace Griffin (2:08)

Good, how are you?

Last Friday the 13th, I visited Ghost in the Machine Tattoo in Boston, where I met Kendra Long and Patrick Lindsay. They're married now, but one of their early dates was getting Friday the 13th tattoos together. It became a tradition. Lindsay takes a moment to count the tattoos he's collected, pointing them out as he goes.

Patrick Lindsay (2:29)

One, two, three, four, I think five actual ones. And then our wedding rings, Michelle also did our wedding rings when we got married. And I put a little 13 in there just because of how we kind of started dating by doing this.

Grace Griffin (2:46)

For the sixth tattoo in his collection, Lindsay isn't sure what he'll get. He plans to pick something on the spot, as will most of the clients Michelle Dugan tattoos today.

Michelle Dugan (2:56)

It's definitely a thing of collecting. It's also just kind of like a weird, fun tradition for people.

Grace Griffin (3:02)

She's worked roughly seven Friday the 13th flash days over her 12-year career as a tattoo artist. But this tradition stretches back a little further.

The popularization of the holiday is widely credited to Oliver Peck, the owner of Elm Street Tattoo in Dallas, Texas. In 2008, he set out to break the Guinness World Record for most tattoos done by an artist in a 24-hour period.

SPEAKER_8 (3:24)

And the talent is 415 He is the new Guinness Book of World Records holder.

Grace Griffin (3:34)

His record has since been broken, but the idea of tattooing spontaneous, spooky designs on Friday the 13th stuck. Now, tattoo shops across the US do it every time the holiday comes around.

Like a lot of artists, Michelle Dugan offers witchy, occult designs to go along with the superstitious day. Her tattoo station in the basement of the shop is decked out with pictures of bats, monsters, mythical creatures and medieval swordsmen.

Michelle Dugan (4:00)

I usually go really, really detailed and meticulous when it comes to custom work. So when it comes to Friday the 13th, I try to loosen up and just do silly or cute stuff.

Grace Griffin (4:10)

She drew up these designs just for today.

One of them catches my eye, and I decide I want to join in on the tradition. I lay down as she prepares to tattoo the piece on the side of my leg.

SPEAKER_8 (4:20)

All right.

Michelle Dugan (4:20)

Feeling ready to roll?

SPEAKER_8 (4:21)

Yes, ma'am.

Grace Griffin (4:22)

It's based on the Three of Swords tarot card, a heart with three swords puncturing the center. First, she applies the design in temporary ink using a stencil, then makes it permanent with bold black ink.

Michelle Dugan (4:33)

And then we'll do the solid black and then the dot work last.

Ready to jump back in? Okay, cool.

Grace Griffin (4:39)