This Friday, November 13, 2026, a date in the United States associated with bad luck, holds a special significance in Cuba.
In Bolita, the popular Cuban lottery based on the Chinese Charade, the number 13 represents the Peacock. This animal was among the 36 original symbols of the game. Later, other meanings were added.
Some players believed that mentioning the number could bring bad luck, which is why the 13 is referred to with a very particular expression: "Tócate."
In the list of the 100 numbers of the Cuban charade, the number 13 is also associated with the child, the stove, and the pimp.
This tradition arrived in Cuba with Chinese immigrants during the 19th century and incorporated elements of the island's popular culture. It is believed that the enslaved African population also contributed many of their insights to the definitive code of the Charada Cubana.
Thus, over time, dreams, animals, and everyday situations became clues that players interpreted to choose their numbers.
La Bolita took deep roots in Cuban society and survived prohibitions and historical changes.
The curiosity of this Friday the 13th also lies in the cultural difference between Cuba and the United States. While Americans traditionally associate Friday the 13th with bad luck, Cubans usually reserve that fear for another day of the week. A well-known proverb states: "On Tuesday the 13th, neither marry nor embark, nor stray from your family."
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