Defy Superstition Day for the year 2023 is celebrated/observed on Wednesday, September 13th. There are until the next observance.

On September 13, “National Defy Superstition Day” is observed. The 13th of the month is a significant number, and it is the day when many individuals around the world reject superstitions. The term “superstition” derives from the Latin word “superstitio,” which means “to stand above or over.” It denotes a belief in or practice of phenomena or processes that cannot be explained by science or logic. Every culture has its own set of superstitions. You might be astonished to hear that some beliefs began with quite rational reasoning but grew out of proportion over time.

📆 When is Defy Superstition Day?

This year, Defy Superstition Day is on September 13th. It is the 2nd Wednesday in September; in 2024, it is on Friday.

Countdown to Defy Superstition Day

Did you know: People in Turkey think that, after dark, chewing gum magically turns into the flesh of the dead.

You can also discover all exciting things you didn’t know about and facts about September 13, 2023.

📜 History of Defy Superstition Day

The history of superstition is both complicated and interesting. While many superstitions are harmless, they may sometimes lead to prejudice, discrimination, and even violence. This is particularly true when mixed with religious ideas. The connections between religion and superstition are much too numerous to list here. During the Middle Ages, for example, people blamed witches for storms, plagues, and other natural calamities. Another example is that scientists in the nineteenth century believed evolution threatened Christianity. Because of this, some people didn’t want to learn about science for fear that it would contradict their religious beliefs.

Walter Davenport’s piece was published in The Christian Science Monitor on October 20, 1925. According to Davenport, superstitions are similar to “foolish fears” in that they make individuals believe they are doing something wrong when they are not. “The stories of witches and howling wolves may be traced back to men’s fears of unknown dangers lurking in the dark places—fears that were perhaps heightened by the fact that there were indeed wolves roaming about Europe at one time,” he says.

The origins of this holiday are unknown. According to some reports, the inventor was Tom Fernsler, a professor at the University of Delaware. He first noticed it in 1987 and encouraged others to challenge superstitions all day, particularly those involving the number 13.

☑️ Defy Superstition Day facts

Giving yellow flowers
Colors have been connected with many diverse meanings since ancient times; for example, in Russia, yellow flowers are troublesome since they are thought to indicate adultery or separation.

Sweeping feet
Some South American communities believe that if a broom runs over your feet, you will never marry and that the bad spell can only be dispelled by spitting on the broom.

Tucking thumbs in inside of a cemetery
People in Japan associate the words “thumb” and “parent,” thus they tuck their thumbs in to protect their parents from death.

Things to do on Defy Superstition Day

Open an umbrella inside the house
Open an umbrella inside the house to commemorate “National Defy Superstition Day.” It is thought that opening an umbrella within the house brings bad luck. But it’s good to violate the rules today.

Walk under a ladder
Walking beneath a ladder is considered unlucky since it represents falling off the ladder. However, if you want to commemorate National Defy Superstition Day, you can stroll beneath it! After all, it’s only a piece of wood!

Break a mirror
A hammer or other blunt item is the best technique to smash the mirror. Avoid using your fist since it may create more pain than necessary. When you think about it, there’s no reason why smashing a mirror would bring bad luck. It’s only an urban legend.

📅 Defy Superstition Day Observances

YEAR DATE DAY
2023 September 13 Wednesday
2024 September 13 Friday
2025 September 13 Saturday
2026 September 13 Sunday
2027 September 13 Monday

See all September holidays, including Special Interest and other Activities holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and interesting facts about Defy Superstition Day. So be sure to check back soon.