Ward off bad luck with a discounted tattoo or piercing this Friday the 13th

Sheyanne N Romero, Visalia Times-Delta
·4 min read
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Friday the 13th is synonymous with bad luck and misfortune.

The origin of Friday the 13th superstition is believed to date back to the Middle Ages, possibly even of Biblical origin.

One theory ties the day to the Last Supper and the subsequent crucifixion of Jesus. There were 13 attendees at the last supper. The following day, the day Jesus died, is known as Good Friday.

There is no clear recorded evidence prior to the 19th Century. However, superstitions surrounding the number 13 date back to 1700 BC and many continue around the world to this day.

Have you ever noticed some planes don't have a 13th row?

Many cities do not have a 13th street or 13th Avenue. Buildings often do not designate a 13th floor. Hospitals commonly do not have a room numbered 13 and many airports do not have a gate 13.

Popular myths surrounding the day include – if you cut your hair on the 13th, someone close to you will die. If a funeral procession passes you on the 13th, you will be next to die. An excursion started on the 13th will meet with misfortune. A child born on the 13th will be unlucky for life.

So, what can you do to protect yourself against bad luck this Friday the 13th?

The Farmer's Almanac suggests crossing your fingers, knocking on wood, avoid stepping on cracks and carry a four-leaf clover.

An alternative is paying respect to the day, instead of fearing it.

Tattoo and piercing shops across the county will hold specials for those wanting to memorialize Friday, 13th. Many tattoo shops offer flash sales with the number 13 incorporated into pre-drawn designs. Piercing shops offer $13 services.

The tradition can be traced to a Texas tattoo artist, Oliver Peck.

Peck co-owns Elm Street Tattoo in Dallas and hosts a 24-hour tattoo marathon every Friday13thfrom midnight to midnight. The first Friday 13th tattoo event was held in 1996.

Peck was included in the Guinness Book of World Records for drawing the most tattoos in a 24-hour period, after he tattooed the number “13” on 415 people on a Friday the 13th in June 2008, according to a New York Times article.

The tradition has spread to Tulare County.

Local Friday the 13th sales

On Friday, Electric BodyMod Piercing, located in Visalia at 5117 W. Walnut Ave., will offer its biggest sale of the year on piercings and tooth gems.

"Friday the 13th is a piercing tradition we brought to the Central Valley when we opened in 2017," shop manager Blanca Alvarez said.

During past Friday the 13th sales, the shop served 150 to 200 customers in one day, at times working through until 2 a.m. If a customer is in line before the shop's 8 p.m. cutoff time, they will still be served.

"It definitely is work, but we have a strong team and a plan of action to be as efficient and precise as possible, while connecting with everyone we see," she said. "We are so proud of the outcome, and we love to see that our loyal customers are willing to come out and show support."

Long wait times are expected, and Alvarez recommends customers eat a hearty meal within two to three hours of being pierced, to ease with the anxiety of a new piercing.

Piercing offers (jewelry not included, sold separately)

  • $13 piercing service: conch, helix, tragus, floating helix (flat), *nose

  • $31 piercing service: daith, ashley, medusa, *eyebrow, *labret

(*will not be available for symmetrical piercings this day, including already having one side pierced.)

Tooth gem offers

  • $51 any size/color Swarovski gem

  • $61 for specialty shape gems

  • $99 for all gold charms

In addition to piercing and tooth gems offerings, permanent jewelry is 31% off.

Electric BodyMod Piercing is open Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In Tulare, Body Art Gallery will also be celebrating Friday the 13th, with a flash sale event. Pre-drawn tattoo designs start at $60 and will be offered from 12 to 8 p.m.

Body Art Gallery is located at 1267 E. Prosperity Ave.

Najera Piercing Studio is offering specials on Friday with select piercings starting at $13, according to a social media post.

Piercing specials:

  • $13: Eyebrow, helix, conch, flat, nose

  • $31: Nipple, septum, navel, daith, lip

Jewelry is sold separately and starts at $15. Additionally, symmetrical piercings are not offer on this day.

Najera Piercing Studio is open from 12:30 to 8 p.m. and is located at 2375 E. Tulare Ave.

Gary Garcia-LoBue contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Tulare County celebrates Friday the 13th with tattoos and piercings