superstitious notion about favourable and unlucky numbers may seem like they ’re little more than tall tales thought up by do-or-die gamblers , but they touch on near every stage of life and have move well beyond the reality of gambling .
Whether inspired by scriptural stories or thelegends of ancient people , these so - called lucky numbers and ill-starred number have different meanings to many people . Based on little more than a narrative , where the origin is often unknown , people will alter change of location plans , delay purchase or spend their life saving on drawing tickets .
Wonder where these digits earned their reputations ? Read on to learn about some of the most popular superstitions in the humanity of number .
13. Number 13
The superstition tie in with the phone number 13 is so common that it even has its very own name , albeit one you probably ca n’t pronounce : triskaidekaphobia .
People are so afraid of this seemingly innocent number that the United States saving loses almost a billion dollars in business every clip Friday the 13th rove around . It also explain why more than 80 per centum of high - acclivity do n’t have a 13th floor : architect skip straight from 12 to 14 to appease mistrustful folks .
So how did 13 get its spooky rep ? It might see back to a Norse myth : When a 13th Edgar Guest usher up to a party attended by 12 deity , one of the Supreme Being ended up dead , and grand wipeout follow . The suspicion of the number 13 could also be blamed on Judas , who was the13th guestto make it to the Last Supper , and everyone eff how well that turned out .
12. Odds and Evens
When it comes to numbers , some superstitious folk music conceive thateven numbers are luckless , while being odd lends a phone number a number of luck , make it a smart pick for risk taker .
While it ’s indecipherable on the button what the rationale is behind this taradiddle , it could be that even bit are unlucky just because they are divisible , which lessen or reduces their mightiness . unmatched numbers ca n’t be cut back in this mode , so they ’re unassailable and more powerful than even public figure [ source : Webster ] .
This superstition even extends to money : Some kinsfolk believe it ’s good to snap the corner off a two - dollar bill bill , give it an odd , three - sided border , just in slip .
11. Lucky 12
Just as 13 is considered one of the unluckiest of all turn , 12 is the rare favourable turn that happens to also be even . The blood line of this superstitious notion are unelaborated , but some sources evoke that 12 arrive at its lucky repp simply because it ’s so nicely divisible . For such a little number , it can be neatly divide into halves , quarters or thirds . Others believe that 12 wins positive vibes merely because of its faithful proximity tothe supremely ill-starred 13 .
Of course , there are those who reason that 13 is view doomed simply because it ’s so indivisible , particularly when placed next to the neatly separate 12 . This line of reasoning quickly turns into a chicken - or - eggs argumentation , but it does n’t change the notion that the number 12 come with an air travel of luck [ source : Patrick and Thompson ] .
10. Lucky Three
The number three is considered golden for a identification number of reasons . First , there ’s the fact that a man and a charwoman — a social unit of two — can become a unit of three with the creation of a child , giving the number three a bit of magic all around the world . The figure is also closely associated with the Holy Trinity , which can be find in various forms in many worldly concern religions .
InChristianity , there ’s the Father , Son and Holy Spirit . Hinduism also has its own Holy Trinity of variety , Islam has its three main holy sites , and some pagan traditions celebrate the trinity of land , ocean and air that make up Earth .
This magic affiliate with the figure three has given rise to expression like " third time lucky " and " third time ’s a charm , " both of which suggest that two failure are certain to be followed by success on the third endeavour .
9. Or Not
Of of course , three is n’t all sunshine and rainbows . Some consort the telephone number with negative events , such as the superstitious notion that spoiled thing happen in threes . For example , many hoi polloi conceive that thing break in mathematical group of three . So if you break something around the home , it ’s best to give way two more minor thing soon after to avoid unknowingly breaking something more expensive down the route .
This idea has been continue to the idea thatcelebrities diein threes or that lighting three cigarettes with a single match will lead to destruction .
One explanation for this phenomenon is that perhaps humans have created the principle of three as a way to put an contrived ending on a bad experience ; if you roll in the hay that you ’ll only infract three thing or that only three celebrities will die in a row , you may be able to better control negatively charged events — at least in your thinker .
8. Number Nine
The act nine is considered one of the lucky numbers around the world because it ’s three times the wizard turn of three , which gains its serious vibes from its tie-up with the Holy Trinity . That ’s why a person having a great day is state to be on cloud nine , while someone who ’s looking supernumerary dapper is dress to the club .
Even the cat - o'-nine - tails , a painful whip used to punish disobedientsailors , benefited from the power of nine . When used in penalization , many believed that the nine tails of the machine would work their thaumaturgy on the wrongdoer , metamorphose him into a suitable seaman [ source : Webster ] .
Despite the hazard more often than not associated with this number , the Japanese view it with distaste , due to the fact that their word for nine sounds an awful lot like their condition for torturing or hurt .
7. Counting Superstitions
Forget individual numbers — the very act of counting itself comes with a series of positivist and negative superstitions . One kinsfolk remedy hint that counting the turn of wart on your trunk and revealing the number to a unknown will make the wart to go away .
Of course , you should never count money , your children or your possessions , as this can make them go away as well . The same is true for livestock — like count chickens before they hatch — as well as Pisces and gambling win . Some superstitious types claim that weighing babies at birthing also convey bad luck , as does count the stones inancient monuments .
6. Age of Luck
Some numbers are consociate with superstitions only when they are watch as an historic period . For example , the number 21 has an air of deception because it ’s the product of the lucky numbers three and seven . It ’s also seen as the beginning of a novel animation level — a time when young hoi polloi need all the hazard they can get .
By the same token , long time 63 is seen by some numerologists as ill-omened ; if you happen to make it past this risk spot and pull through to geezerhood 64 , expect to be a long , lucky liveliness [ generator : Murrell ] .
ill-fated historic period are so prevalent in Japanese culture that they have a name for them : yakudoshi . For woman , these unlucky years are 19 , 33 and 37 , while men fight to make it through the unlucky ages of 25 , 42 and 60 . [ source : Chavez ]
5. Beware of 17
Italians regale the act 17 the same room North American cultures process 13 — for very secure reason . The Italians save 17 as XVII , which can be rearranged to organize VIXI , which roughly understand to " I ’m now dead " or " my life is over . " Not a pleasant thought .
Due to this negative connotation , the Italians bypass the number 17 in many of the same ways Americans skip over the telephone number 13 ; they void using it to turn airline seats , flight of steps or the story in building .
Carmakersand other manufacturers avoid using the number when nominate merchandise or assigning model numbers , just in case . Ironically , the dreaded 13 is in reality consider lucky in Italy , despite its reputation in many other parts of the domain .
4. Lucky Number Four
While most even numbers are naturally unlucky because they can be lose weight thanks to air division , superstitious notion suggests that the number four is in reality quite lucky because so many matter in nature occur in groups of four — from the fundamental direction and season to the component that make up Earth . And there ’s also the ever - luckyfour - leaf clover .
Of course , this luck only extends to Western culture . In China , Vietnam , Korea and Japan , the bit four has a emphatically luckless air — mostly because it sounds similar to the words for " death " in these languages when pronounced out loudly .
Throughout much of Asia , many masses reject to use the number four in prices , planetary house numbers , phone numbers or buildings due to the superstitions smother the figure [ source : Murrell ] . In some cases , buildings might tag the fourth floor as the " F " floor or another alternative to void using the number .
In westerly culture , the number four is generally care for without specific superstitious significance . While there are a few ill-fated quaternity , like the Four Horsemen symbolising doom in the Christian Bible , these are exceptions rather than far-flung beliefs .
3. Triple Sevens
prosperous telephone number seven ! It ’s the material of legend for gamblers and lottery lover — and the ecumenical symbolic representation forslot machinesand big Vegas jackpots . wonder where the number gained its golden reputation ? It could be attributed to the role that the number seven has play in history , culture and legend .
There are Seven Wonders of the World , seven seas and seven solar day of the week . God took seven days to make the earthly concern , and the ancient world had seven planet . Want some existent luck ? Seek out the seventh son of a seventh son ; he is supposed to have charming abilities , including healing power and an unending kitty of luck .
2. Beware the Devil
Like the number 13 , the number666has its very own scientific term to describe those who revere the figure : hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia . Thanks to theBook of Revelation , it ’s viewed as the number of the beast , or the deuce ’s number , giving it an doomed vibe . Many will hesitate if they see this figure as a flight numeral , hotel room bit , a price for a product or even as part of a sound number or street address .
Despite its report in the westerly existence , harmonize to Chinese culture , 666 is about as lucky as it gets . In Chinese , the word for six sound awfully similar to the word for " smooth " or " flowing , " so three VI in a row will get the good luck flowing for sure .
1. Lucky Number Eight
Superstitions surround the number eight give it luck due to its tie-up with Resurrection of Christ and rehabilitation [ source : Webster ] . In Christianity , Godcreated the worldin six days and catch one’s breath on the seventh , get out the 8th day exposed for refilling and a well world .
Thisangel numberis also one of just a handful where Eastern and westerly superstitious notion align ; the Chinese celebrate the number eight because it sounds like the Cantonese word for " successfulness . "
A car license plate that include the number eight is picture as lucky , prompt buyers to bear hundreds or thousands more for the plate than one that does n’t feature the numeral . Some Chinese mass even change their address or sound number to admit the lucky number [ source : Murrell ] .
This article was update in conjunctive with AI technology , then fact - jibe and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor program .
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In a world where the majority of people do n’t identify themselves as especially superstitious , it ’s astounding just how much impact superstitions about numbers can have on the economy . I was shocked to learn that businesses fall behind almost a billion dollars each clip the 13th of the month just materialize to fall on a Friday . While research this clause , I also get wind that people in some Asiatic countries will compensate a premium just for a license plate or street speech that contains a lucky act . Manufacturers and retailers have catch on as well , portion random toll to products that rely more on the inclusion of lucky numbers than on any retail scheme or research .
