Finland Declares One Friday the 13th Each Year National Accident Day

Do you wake up with a queasy feeling in the pit of your stomach every Friday the 13th? Since 1995, the Finnish people have attempted to relieve the anxiety on one of those fear-inspiring days every year by officially proclaiming it National Accident Day. The idea is to prevent mishaps — not encourage them.

Because there is at least one Friday the 13th per year on the modern Gregorian calendar, an annual National Accident Day is always possible. The main objective of this movable cautionary feast is to increase public awareness about the small matters that are important to avoid “misfortunes” — the word used by the Finland Times for fatal accidents. Accident Day is not limited to preventing automotive accidents however; it also brings awareness to increasing safety in workplaces and in the home.

Look Both Ways

In 2016, Finland’s National Accident Day occurred on May 13. Its theme focused on “accidents caused by haste.” Due to the country’s concern that pedestrians and cyclists need to be more careful when traveling, police upped their presence at pedestrian intersections in addition to monitoring “automotive behavior,” another interesting Finnish phrase.

The Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health promotes the day every year, working with other government and non-government agencies. However, National Accident Day is not a public holiday.

Finland vs USA

Accidents are the fourth leading cause of death in Finland and in the United States, though the United States has never proclaimed an official day that focuses on accident prevention. In 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson did declare October 15 National White Cane Safety Day, but the designation has more to do with celebrating the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired along with their tool of independence, the white cane.

Fire Prevention Week, celebrated every October in U.S. classrooms, comes the closest to the safety-first mission of Finland’s National Accident Day. Still, no U.S. observance is targeted to allay friggatriskaidekaphobia (that is, the fear of Friday the 13^th) the way National Accident Day does — by officially superseding the weight of an unlucky day with an ounce or two of prevention.