Friday the 13th, a date steeped in superstition and often associated with bad luck, has an intriguing twist within tattoo culture. Far from being a day to avoid getting inked, it has transformed into a celebrated occasion for tattoo enthusiasts. This tradition, embraced by tattoo shops and individuals alike, offers a unique blend of thrill, affordability, and a touch of rebellion against superstition.
The unlikely marriage of Friday the 13th and tattoos began with Oliver Peck, co-owner of the renowned Elm Street Tattoo in Dallas, Texas. In 2008, Peck decided to challenge the ominous reputation of the date by offering $13 tattoos (plus a mandatory $7 lucky tip) for 24 hours straight on Friday, June 13th. This wasn’t just a promotional stunt; it was the spark that ignited a nationwide phenomenon. Peck tattooed an impressive 415 people, and the concept quickly spread across the United States, with tattoo shops adopting the Friday the 13th tattoo special. Among the early adopters was Daredevil Tattoo in New York City, a pioneering shop that opened shortly after tattooing was legalized in the city in 1997.
To delve deeper into this fascinating trend, we spoke with Michelle Myles, co-owner of Daredevil Tattoo. Myles shared insights into the origins of the Friday the 13th tattoo tradition, its evolution, and why it resonates so strongly within the tattoo community.
The Unexpected Connection: Tattoos and Friday the 13th
When asked about the link between tattooing and Friday the 13th, Myles credits Oliver Peck’s innovative idea and the simple allure of a good deal. “Well, it’s just something that Oliver Peck thought of, and people really like cheap tattoos!” she laughs. However, she also points to a deeper connection rooted in tattoo history and symbolism. “Tattoos have always kind of reflected lucky or unlucky talismans,” Myles explains. Drawing parallels to classic tattoo imagery, she mentions, “It’s kind of like how people would get Grim Reaper tattoos.” Myles herself sports a “Mr. Lucky” tattoo, a skull in a top hat adorned with “13, 13, 13,” acquired long before Friday the 13th became synonymous with tattoo deals.
Myles believes the appeal lies in playfully confronting superstition. “I think people enjoy tempting fate or making fun of it a little bit.” Classic tattoo motifs like skulls, often seen as intimidating or symbolic of mortality, fit perfectly into this theme. “Skulls have always been a really popular image, and that type of stuff can be intimidating in some ways, which people like to embrace for tattoos, maybe as a way to laugh at ill fate or unlucky things. It’s a way to maybe not be afraid of them, or just to embrace it and be aligned with it, you know?” Ultimately, Myles suggests that the imagery associated with Friday the 13th, and the number 13 itself, has always been naturally aligned with tattoo aesthetics.
Daredevil Tattoo: Pioneering the Friday the 13th Tattoo Event
Daredevil Tattoo’s involvement in the Friday the 13th tattoo tradition dates back to around 2000. Initially inspired by Oliver Peck’s initiative, the shop’s participation began modestly. “Oliver in Texas was the first one who was doing it, and so we had this tattoo artist at our shop who was friends with Oliver. She wanted to do the same thing, and I said sure,” Myles recounts. The first event was small, with only a few artists tattooing friends. However, interest grew quickly. “Eventually everybody at the shop wanted to do the Friday the 13th thing.”
A pivotal moment arrived when Fuse network, a television channel, sought to feature Daredevil Tattoo. “Somebody from Fuse network wanted to film at our shop and do a little profile, and it was right before Friday the 13th, and I said, ‘Actually, Friday the 13th is coming up and we have this special that we do.'” This media exposure propelled the event to a new level of popularity. “When the next Friday the 13th came around, people were calling us from all over the country, asking if they could come in.” Myles describes the surge in attention as “crazy,” with customers flying in from across the country and even local recognition in her daily life. Daredevil Tattoo continued the tradition, and soon, other tattoo shops began to follow suit, solidifying Friday The 13th Tattoos as a widespread phenomenon.
Popular Friday the 13th Tattoo Designs: Speed and Spookiness
The demand on Friday the 13th necessitates efficiency. “Whatever we can do really quickly is probably the No. 1 feature of a Friday the 13th tattoo,” Myles states. Daredevil Tattoo, having been a long-time participant, has perfected the process. “We’ve really streamlined the process and we’re very good at accommodating a lot of people. Sometimes we tattoo 100 to 200 people, depending on the designs.” The focus is on fun, simple designs that can be executed quickly to serve the large crowds.
Design-wise, the themes often revolve around luck, both bad and good. “As far as imagery goes, people will get unlucky and lucky things,” Myles explains. Unlucky symbols like “skulls and Grim Reapers and the number 13 or lightning bolts” are common choices. The key is “anything that’s fun and quirky.” For many, Friday the 13th tattoos have become a collectible tradition. “We definitely have some customers who have been coming in for the last 20 years and they have a whole collection of these little designs.” Myles even mentions a family who makes it an annual ritual.
A Throwback to Tattooing’s Roots
For Myles, Friday the 13th events offer a glimpse into the history of tattooing. “For us, it’s sort of like the closest we can get to how tattooing used to be.” She reminisces about a time when getting a tattoo was less elaborate. “It used to be when you came in to get tattooed, you’d just come in, pick something off the wall, and that was what you got. It wasn’t this whole production, about people having custom ideas and spending a lot of time drawing stuff up. You just came in, picked something, sat down, you got tattooed, and that was that.” In a modern tattoo landscape often dominated by custom designs and intricate processes, Friday the 13th tattoos bring back a sense of spontaneity and accessibility.
This accessibility is further enhanced by the price point. Myles highlights the affordability, stating, “Plus, tattoos are expensive these days, so I like that people can still come into Daredevil, a world-renowned tattoo shop, and afford to get tattooed here for $40.” This price point makes tattooing accessible to a wider audience, including those who might be getting their first tattoo. “Even some punk kid like I was when I got my first tattoo can still come in and afford to get tattooed at our shop.”
Beyond the financial aspect, Friday the 13th events are about community and connection. “We really like it as a way to connect with new people, and also to have fun with our friends and make new friends for the day.” Myles appreciates the opportunity to engage with the community and experience a taste of tattooing’s more traditional, less commercialized past. “I really love that it gives us a chance to get a little taste of what tattooing was like back in the old days, before it became this more gentrified version of itself.”
Friday the 13th Tattoo Tradition Continues
Whether it’s the thrill of defying superstition, the appeal of affordable tattoos, or the sense of community, Friday the 13th tattoos have carved out a unique and enduring space in tattoo culture. From its humble beginnings at Elm Street Tattoo to its nationwide adoption, this tradition showcases the creativity and spirit of the tattoo world, turning an unlucky day into a celebration of ink and camaraderie. As Michelle Myles and Daredevil Tattoo demonstrate, Friday the 13th is not just a date to fear, but an opportunity to embrace a fun, spooky, and increasingly popular tattoo tradition.
