Halloween 2014
Halloween 2014 is on Friday, 31 October. Ina Fassbender/Reuters

A rumour circulating on social media that Halloween 2014 will take place on Friday the 13th for the first time in 666 years has been declared a hoax.

The fake post was shared on Twitter by user @Dory, which was retweeted more than 1,300 times.

Halloween 2014 on Friday 13th
An image stating that Halloween 2014 will fall on Friday the 13th for the first time in 666 years was also shared online. Facebook

Declaring the hoax, the conspiracy theory and rumour-debunking website Snopes said: "Basically, this is a gullibility joke that plays on the idea of the reader's failing to make the connection that a holiday observed on the fixed date of October 31 could not possibly ever have fallen on the 13th day of the month (Friday or otherwise). The mention of "666 years" since the last supposed occurrence of that phenomenon is a reference to the number famously cited as the "Number of the beast" described in the New Testament's Book of Revelation, and of course the selection of Friday the 13th is a nod to the calendar date traditionally considered to be an especially unlucky one in western superstition."

However, many Twitter users fell for the false post.

“@Dory: spooky fact:

2014 is the first year in 666 years that Halloween falls on Friday the 13th” @joemorris811 illuminati confirmed

— daisy (@daismorris) October 11, 2014

“@CHlLDHOODRUINER: spooky fact:

2014 is the first year in 666 years that Halloween falls on Friday the 13th” no... Just no..😳

— Lexi (@Lexiboo4213) October 11, 2014

“@Dory: spooky fact:
2014 is the first year in 666 years that Halloween falls on Friday the 13th” Its the 31st😂 ppl just makin stuff up now😂

— Noah Varnell (@noahvarnell) October 11, 2014

“@Dory: spooky fact:

2014 is the first year in 666 years that Halloween falls on Friday the 13th” this one is going to be so fucked up.

— Karenne (@KKarebear_) October 11, 2014