Why Do Hotels Not Have A 13th Floor? The Secret Revealed

The fear of number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia.

Stories and conspiracies across several countries have arisen over the centuries related to the missing 13th floor in buildings which supposedly affects owners and tenants alike. Let's find out why!

However, the origin of this superstitious belief is numerous, ranging from the disorder triskaidekaphobia to Jesus' 13th disciple Judas. We've dug into the history of why people omit the 13th floor so that you get a clear understanding of whether this is simply a myth from history or a complex fear.

From being associated with being unlucky to thinking the 13th floor would cause shadowed congestion on the streets, this superstition knows no bounds. Apart from renaming the floors, many will notice that it is missing on the button list in the elevator as well.

There have been surveys conducted to find out the people's reaction to this amusing superstition, and the results only proved the prominence of this fear or belief among the public.

Hotel guests, building tenants, and even Otis elevators prefer skipping the floor number 13 and instead, give it another name. Let us help you discover this hidden truth and judge for yourself whether you believe the superstition about the 13th floor or not!

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What are the reasons why hotels do not have a 13th floor?

One of the prime reasons why most hotels or apartment buildings don't have the 13th floor is because the owners do not want to deal with the superstitious beliefs of a guest or tenant because of the fear of the number 13.

Instead of calling it the 13th floor, the number is usually replaced with the letter 'M', skipped entirely, or called 12 A, 12 B, 14 A, or 14 B. Oftentimes, these floors of hotels or buildings are inhabited and used as mechanical floors, restaurants, or even pool rooms.

However, buildings or hotels skip the floor not only because of superstition but also because of a different ideology that started in New York during the early 1900s.

When skyscrapers had just become an efficient style of building, it was believed that crossing 12 stories would cast a lot of shadows in the streets and that the value of the apartments on this story would decrease.

The superstition overrides this explanation simply because Otis Elevators released a statement claiming that 85 % of the buildings have succumbed to the belief that 13 is an unlucky number and have omitted it entirely.

What is triskaidekaphobia?

In simple words, the fear of the number 13 is triskaidekaphobia. The word is derived from Ancient Greek which is 'treiskaídeka' meaning 'thirteen' and 'phóbos' meaning 'fear'. This phobia was first described in 1910 in Abnormal Psychology by Isador Coriat, an American neurologist and psychiatrist.

13 is considered unlucky mostly because of various folklores and myths. However, the origin is not entirely certain, it seems to have stemmed from Norse mythology or the Judas theory.

The fear became more prominent after bad events started taking place, especially with the involvement of the number 13. For example, Apollo 13 suffered complications due to the oxygen tank on 13 April 1970. Similarly, various other incidents have occurred over the years which are believed to have resulted in some people having triskaidekaphobia.

(Several people are known to fear the number 13 because of age-old beliefs and events.)

What buildings have and don't have on the 13th floor?

The concept related to avoiding the 13th floor is not followed all over the world. The feature of avoiding this floor is mostly observed in American and European Cultures, although other traditions believe in other superstitious stories.

Hotels and apartment complexes are among the most common building examples that avoid the 13th floor because people are skeptical about living on these floors. In America alone, some research suggested that over 10 % of Americans are triskaidekaphobes.

This is mainly the reason why residential spaces or hotels prefer not to use the number instead of losing customers. However, avoiding the 13th floor is not as drastic because some of the most famous buildings, such as the Twin Towers and the Empire State Building have floor number 13!

What is the superstition about the 13th floor?

From Friday the 13th to ancient mythology, several factors have fueled the superstitions regarding the number 13. Although the exact story remains unidentified, these beliefs have been around for centuries.

The concept of Friday the 13th began in 1307 when the Knights Templar were arrested by Philip IV of France, and this was ordered on a Friday the 13th. One explanation states that 12 Norse Gods had a get-together in Valhalla when Loki, the trickster, attended the dinner as the 13th guest despite being uninvited.

Loki had Höðr kill Balder, which set the entire world into mourning and believing that this was an unlucky day. Similarly, Judas is considered the 13th disciple seated at the Last Supper.

He went on to betray Jesus, which only adds fuel to this superstitious fire.

Similarly, the Code of Hammurabi of ancient Babylon was said to have removed its 13th law, and the people believed it was because of something ominous. However, modern-day discoveries suggest that the 13th law was missing simply because of a clerical error.

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