Why is 13 considered an unlucky number?

Answer 1

Thirteen is regarded as an unlucky number in many cultures. One (probably unverifiable) hypothesis holds that 13 is a reflection of the human fear of the unknown, since it is the first number that cannot be enumerated by using our 10 fingers and 2 feet. Unreasoned fear of the number 13 is termed triskaidekaphobia. Due to this fear, some tall buildings have resorted to skipping the "thirteenth floor", simply by numbering it "14" (though it's really still the thirteenth floor) or by designating the floor "12a" or similar instead. Similarly, some streets do not contain a house number 13. The thirteenth of a month is likewise ominous, particularly when it falls on a Friday or in the Greek and Spanish-speaking world, a Tuesday. Months with a Friday the 13th always begin on a Sunday. According to another interpretation number 13 is unlucky because it is the number of full moons in a year. Women living in a natural environment tend to have their period during a full moon. A woman typically has 13 periods in a year. In the past, a woman who 'bled' during a full moon was seen as a witch. The fear of women's connection to the moon, as well as the association of the full moon with mental disorders has, according to this theory, caused the number to be seen as bad luck, and connected to supernatural forces.

A small minority of left handers consider 13 to be their "lucky" number. This is possibly derived from unlucky being an antonym for lucky (7 is a popular lucky number in Western culture). Many left handers are taught to do the opposite when learning new skills from a right handed instructor. Thus they consider 13 to be their "lucky" number as it is the opposite of 13 being the "unlucky" number.

The number is also considered unlucky by some as it is the sum of 1+4+5+3, the year of the fall of Constantinople to the Turks, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire, though it may be considered lucky by Turks, on the same basis.

In the Christian religion, the number is considered significant since there were thirteen present at the Last Supper. Also, if both Judas and Matthias are counted, there were thirteen apostles. Thirteen was also once associated with the Epiphany by Christians, the child Jesus having received the Magi on his thirteenth day of life.

In the Jewish tradition, 13 signifies the age of maturity, a 13 year old Jew is said to be Bar mitzvah. 13 appears in other places in the Hebrew Bible though not as often as other famous biblical numbers such as 7 and 12. Thirteen also occurs in different list of important characteristics, such as God's thirteen attributes or Maimonides Thirteen Principles of Faith. In fact, one could say that for Jews, 13 is more of a lucky number than an unlucky one.

In the Sikh religion, the number 13 is considered a special number since 13 is tera in Punjabi which also means "yours" (as in, "I am yours, O Lord"). When Guru Nanak Dev Ji had a job of counting stocks of items, he counted from 1 to 13 (in Punjabi) as one does normally, but after reaching the count of 13, he would just repeat "tera", since all items were in fact God's, as God created them. When somebody heard this while passing, Guru Nanak Dev Ji was confronted about this, and his records were checked. It was a miracle since they were all perfect, yet he never seemed to count the items properly.

Modern day witches have reclaimed the number 13 as a lucky and significant number. This may be similar to witches reclaiming other previously negative terms and ideas associated with witchcraft, such as black cats, brooms, and even the term witch itself. In modern day Wicca, thirteen is considered the maximum size of a coven, and in some traditions the ideal number of members.

Amongst some Chinese people, it is regarded as a lucky number because it sounds similar to "實生", which means "must be alive". But this belief is not universal, or even known to all Chinese. Also, 13 is regarded as unlucky by those Chinese under the influence of foreign cultures.

In the Persian culture, 13 is also considered an unlucky number. On the 13th day of the Persian new year (Norouz), people consider staying at home unlucky, and go outside for a picnic in order to ward off the bad luck.

In The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, "What is six times nine" is posed as the question to the answer to life, the universe and everything (42). This is true in base 13, although this was merely coincidence according to author Douglas Adams. Similarly, the fact that the official numbering system for counties of Norway skips over "county number 13" is due not to superstition but historical accident.

Legendary NBA superstar Wilt Chamberlain wore the number 13 on his jersey throughout his career. It signified that the number 13 was not unlucky for him, but unlucky for his opponents. Another legendary athlete who wore the number 13 was Dan Marino, who passed for more yards than any other quarterback in NFL history.

Interesting fact, in the east, the numbers '4' and '9' are often considered unluck due to their resemblance to the words for 'death' and 'suffering'. But if these numbers are added together, you get the traditonally unlucky number of the west,'13'.

Answer 2

The number 13 has been considered unlucky for a long time, and by people all over the world. The early Romans thought 13 was a sign of death and destruction. And according to Norse mythology, if you sat 13 people down at a table, that was very unlucky. (Why? At a banquet of 12 people in Valhalla, an intruder –number 13 – caused the death of Balder’s son Odin). The number of people at the last supper of Christ and the twelve Apostles confirmed the superstition about the number 13 in withes were believed to meet in “covens” that hat 13 members.

The fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia. Many hotels have no room 13, and many buildings have no 13th floor. Next time you fly, see if there is a row 13 in the plane. As date, 13 isn’t too lucky either, especially when it falls on Friday. That was always thought of as a really bad day to start a new project or to begin a ship voyage. Movers, doctors and dentists say their business drops on Friday the 13th. The good news is that a maximum of three Friday the 13th can occur in a year, and sometimes there is just one...

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Answer 3

It is said: If 13 people sit down to dinner together, all will die within the year. The Turks so disliked the number 13 that it was practically expunged from their vocabulary (Brewer, 1894). Many cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue. Many buildings don't have a 13th floor. If you have 13 letters in your name, you will have the devil's luck (Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all have 13 letters in their names). There are 13 witches in a coven.
Though no one can say for sure when and why human beings first associated the number 13 with misfortune, the belief is assumed to be quite old and there exist any number of theories purporting to trace its origins to antiquity and beyond.

It has been proposed, for example, that fears surrounding the number 13 are as ancient as the act of counting.

Answer 4

13 witches in a coven

Judus, betrayer of Jesus, made 13 at the table (the last supper)

13 is one past 12, the dozen (almost universally regarded as a perfect number, which signifies harmony and everything good)

unlucky because that's the number of full moons in a year

women 13 menstrul cycles a year, bled on full moons considered witches

gahhh so many, check sources for more

hope it helped :)

Answer 5

Its not everywhere, in japan and Korea the number 4 is considered unlucky. They dont even have 4th floors in buildings.

Answer 6

okay..........you've looked at everyone elses answer...now here is the reason..........
back in the medeval ages, during the crusades the were an order of knights known as the knights templar (knights of the temple) they were established to aid pilgrams getting to and from Jeruselam.
they became very wealthy and powerful, owning lots of land throughout europe and in doing so became a threat to the king of france amongst others
The french king ordered them to be arested and killed, all of them...they were arrested and killed on friday the 13(OCTOBER 13 1307)....therefore 13 became an unlucky #

Answer 7

The same reason all the other dumb superstitions are considered unlucky, someone was bored!

Answer 8

I don't like odd numbers.

Answer 9

it's not to me cuz i was born on friday the 13th but i don't care i think
6 6 6

is bad.........

Answer 10

becuase thats how many colonis, there were before the state.. I gues..