Numerology is the belief that numbers have mystical meanings and hold influence over people’s lives. Throughout history and across cultures, certain numbers have developed reputations as being unlucky or ominous. Though the origins of “unlucky numbers” often stem from superstition, these numbers continue to provoke strong reactions in people today. Understanding why some numbers are viewed as unlucky can offer interesting insights into human nature. Here we will explore some of the most notorious unlucky numbers and examine why they stir dread and apprehension.
History and Origins of Unlucky Numbers
- Ancient cultures like the Babylonians, Chinese, and Egyptians avoided using certain numbers they considered inauspicious. The Babylonians viewed 12 as a complete number, so 13 was seen as irregular and threatening. The ancient Mayans thought 13 correlated with the layers of their underworld.
- The number 17 was feared by ancient Italians because when written out (XVII), it could be rearranged to spell the Roman word VIXI meaning “I have lived” – a reference to death.
- Tetraphobia is the fear of the number 4. In Chinese, the pronunciation of the word for “four” is similar to the word “death”. Many buildings in China lack floors or rooms with the number 4.
- The number 666 is known as the Biblical “Number of the Beast” and is associated with Satan in the Book of Revelation. Seeing 666 is thought to be a sign of impending evil and misfortune.
While the origins of unlucky numbers vary, common threads emerge: asymmetry, resemblance to ominous words, and associations with death or evil forces. These simple connections created superstitions that color how we see certain numbers today.
Notorious Unlucky Numbers
The Unholy Trinity: 13, 666, and Friday the 13th
Of all unlucky numbers, 13 has the most notorious reputation, even earning its own name as “Triskaidekaphobia”.
- Early Christians viewed 13 as unholy because there were 13 people at Jesus Christ’s last supper on Maundy Thursday. This also tied into the belief that having 13 people sitting down for a meal led to the first person to rise dying within a year.
- Fear of Friday the 13th may originate with the slaughter of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307. The Knights Templar were a powerful religious order that was persecuted for heresy.
- Friday the 13th is considered an ill-fated day. Many buildings omit the 13th floor, airlines avoid row numbers containing 13, and people avoid important events like weddings.
- The number 666 symbolizes the Devil. Some buildings skip the 666th address. Observant Jews and Christians avoid the numbers 666 out of deference to the Book of Revelation.
While most modern societies view these associations as silly superstitions, 13, Friday the 13th and 666 still provoke feelings of unease and foreboding today.
Cursed Numbers in Sports
Certain numbers are considered unlucky within the world of sports. While it may seem irrational, a mere jersey number is enough to stoke fans’ and athletes’ superstitions.
- In Italy, soccer players avoid wearing the number 17 because it resembles the Roman numeral for the word XVII or VIXI (“my life is over”). Italian stadiums often skip row 17 and many teams refuse to place the number 17 on jerseys.
- The Curse of the Bambino plagued the Boston Red Sox after they sold Babe Ruth, nicknamed The Bambino, to the New York Yankees. The Red Sox failed to win a World Series from 1920-2003 until they traded for a player wearing Ruth’s number 3 and finally lifted the curse.
- In Formula 1 racing, few drivers choose
Past champions with #13 on their cars experienced terrible accidents, cementing it as an unlucky number.
These superstitions show how influential numbers can become, even guiding multi-million dollar sports franchises and athletes in their decisions.
Sinister Number Associations
Beyond specific numbers, certain number groups are also viewed as foreboding. These patterns can create an uneasy mood when encountered.
- Repeating numbers, like 111 or 999, can seem eerie, as if trying to get someone’s attention. They may be interpreted as an omen or warning.
- Palindrome numbers that read the same forwards and backwards, like 1001, are considered unlucky in Chinese culture. The symmetry feels discomforting.
- Numbers containing many repeated digits (1111111) or long strings of sequential digits (123456789) are described as creepy or ominous. This may be because the unusual patterns look artificial, as if fabricated or controlled by an outside force.
While most number superstitions focus on specific numbers, these more general patterns demonstrate that context also influences if a number seems sinister or not.
Origins of Number Superstitions
Several key factors underlie the origins of unlucky number associations across cultures:
Meaningful Words or Patterns
Numbers that resemble words, syllables, or word patterns associated with negative ideas are often deemed unlucky:
- Tetraphobia – fear of 4 – arises in part from the number four in Chinese sounding similar to the word for “death”.
- Italian soccer players avoid 17 because it can form the Roman numeral XVII, which can be rearranged as VIXI (“my life is over”).
- The number 666 symbolizes the devil because of the associations made in the biblical Book of Revelation.
Bad Luck After a Significant Event
Numbers become unlucky when connected to negative events:
- Tradition holds the number 13 became unlucky due to 13 people being present at the Last Supper.
- Friday the 13th gained notoriety after the persecution of the Knights Templar in 1307.
- The number 17 gained negative associations in Italy after a misfortune involving 17th century numerology and the lottery.
Avoiding Completion
Numbers one short of an ideal number are often seen as unlucky:
- 12 is viewed as a complete, holy number in numerology. Hence, 13 became regarded as irregular, an outlier, and unlucky.
- Large suites of rooms will often avoid labeling a 13th room, floor, or row, leaving them incomplete.
Uneasy Feelings Towards Peculiar Patterns
Numbers or number patterns that provoke uneasiness tend to be deemed unlucky or sinister:
- Repetitive numbers like 111 feel artificial and ominous, as if an outside force is controlling them.
- Long strings of sequential integers give a sense that something is out of balance.
- Palindromes read the same backwards and forwards, lending them an eerie symmetry.
Associations with Evil, Death, and Misfortune
Numbers take on negative meanings when linked to ideas like evil, death, or misfortune:
- 666 was labeled as the “Number of the Beast” in the Bible’s Book of Revelation.
- Unlucky numbers frequently relate to expressions about death, like tetraphobia arising from Chinese number words.
- The ill-fated number 17 is associated with harm in Italy because it resembles “I have lived” or the misfortune once associated with 17 in the lottery.
The Persistence of Number Superstition
Despite the prevalence of logic and reason in modern society, number superstitions remain deeply ingrained. Possible reasons these negative associations continue include:
Early Childhood Learning
- Number preferences form at a very young age. Children notice patterns, repetition, symmetry, and sequencing well before understanding abstract logic.
- Superstitious attitudes towards numbers get transmitted early on from family and broader culture.
- Ingrained number associations will persist even when a person consciously rejects the superstition intellectually.
Desire for Control and Meaning
- Humans have a need to feel life is orderly and imbued with meaning. Number superstitions impose structure.
- Believing certain numbers influence outcomes gives a sense of control. This appeal outweighs the irrationality.
- Superstitions provide a sense of certainty amid life’s randomness.
Hedging Against Perceived Threats
- Numbers linked to death provoke fear of mortality. Avoiding them provides a sense of circumventing harm.
- Associations with evil or spirits tap into primal dread. Steering clear of such numbers reduces anxiety.
- Viewing numbers as cursed or unlucky allows blaming external forces rather than one’s own failings when things go wrong.
In essence, number superstitions reflect basic aspects of human nature – the search for meaning, need for control, and desire to mitigate perceived threats. The patterns reveal the timeless ways people impose structure on the world.
Notable Unlucky Numbers in Different Cultures
Unlucky number associations vary across cultures, though common themes emerge. Here are some notable examples:
Chinese Culture
- 4 is avoided because it sounds similar to the word for “death”
- 7 is seen as lucky and a prime number, so 14 is unlucky because it breaks the “perfect” 7
- Words with repeated syllables like 88 suggest double unluckiness
- 242 resembles the sounds for “easy to die”
Japanese Culture
- 4 is avoided because it’s pronounced “shi”, identical to the word for “death”
- 9 is lucky, so variations like 49 or 94 are unlucky for breaking up its wholeness
- 42 is unlucky as it’s pronounced “shini” meaning “to die”
Indian Culture
- Properties with address 13 are difficult to rent or sell
- Car license plates or phone numbers with 13 avoided
- Friday the 13th considered very inauspicious
- Number 8 lucky, so 88 auspicious while 84 unlucky
Italian Culture
- 17 has multiple negative associations – VIXI (“I have lived” = death), misfortune with lottery
17, and XVII (anagram of VIXI)
- Friday the 17th considered very unfavorable, possibly even more so than Friday 13th
Hotels and Apartments
- Rooms/floors numbered 4, 13, or 666 often skipped
- Some properties skip all room
s ending in 13
- More cautious builders avoid floors 40-49 (4), 13-19 (13), 66 floors (66)
This small sample demonstrates both cultural variances and universal tendencies underlying unlucky number lore.
Debunking Number Superstition
While number associations and patterns provoke strong gut reactions, most contemporary societies reject superstitions as irrational on logical grounds:
- Confirmation Bias – People overweight evidence confirming number beliefs while ignoring contrary evidence
- Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy – Random patterns get interpreted as significant
- Anthropic Principle – In a universe of infinite possibilities, unlikely events will occur
- Regression to the Mean – After runs of good/bad luck, chances average out over time
- Selective Memory – We better remember events matching superstitions
- Ideomotor Effect – Expectations unconsciously influence actions/perceptions
- Recency Bias – Recent or vivid events overly influence perceptions
Moreover, studies on lucky numbers show:
- No evidence particular numbers impact chance events like lotteries
- Individual life outcomes do not correlate with lucky/unlucky numbers
- Belief in lucky numbers grounded more in childhood experiences than reality
- Lucky number choices closely relate to human perceptual biases
Still, shaken confidence from events like financial crashes keeps superstitions alive. And brain studies show numbers activate the amygdala, the part of the brain that drives emotional reactions. This deep-seated response keeps numbers influencing behavior however much one rejects the irrationality logically.
Things People Commonly Do to Avoid Unlucky Numbers
Despite recognizing number superstitions lack rationale, many people still hedge their bets by accommodating them in minor ways:
- Avoid putting 13 people at a dinner table
- Quickly knock on wood after talking about an unlucky number
- Use 12-A instead of 13 to label floors or address apartments
- Refrain from scheduling major events on Friday the 13th
- Cross fingers till unlucky numbers pass while driving
- Include lucky numbers, symbols, or traditions in weddings
- Alter phone numbers, addresses, and license plates to avoid unlucky digits
- Repeat positive mantras to counteract unlucky numbers
- Avoid betting on unlucky numbers in games and lotteries
- Rationalize unlucky numbers as just “patterns I don’t prefer”
Small gestures like these allow people to indulge number preferences without fully surrendering to superstition. And changing “unlucky 13” to “lucky 12-A” lets people assert some control over randomness. So even as logic overrides superstitions, visceral reactions still influence behaviors.
Notable Events Linked to Unlucky Numbers
While no evidence shows numbers directly cause misfortune, some chilling coincidences perpetuate their sinister mystique:
- The devastating Japan tsunami on March 11, 2011 (3/11 mirrors the disaster date of 9/11 in the US).
- The disappearance of MH370 on March 8, 2014 (flight number resembles 13 inverted).
- The Halloween flood disaster along Italy’s Po River on Friday 13, 1577.
- The fire destroying the original Crystal Palace in London on Friday 30th December 1866 (13 inverted).
- The November 13, 2015 Paris terrorist attacks spurring greater fear of Friday the 13th.
- Disasters like Chernobyl and the Costa Concordia shipwreck occurring on “doubly unlucky” Friday 13ths.
- The number 13 car famously linked to racing driver Dan Wheldon’s fatal crash.
While these events hadclear causes, their coinciding with number superstitions seemingly validates the beliefs. This fuels ongoing dread of the numbers.
And the more people fear them, the more they avoid them, perpetuating the superstitions.
How to Use Unlucky Numbers
While some people actively avoid unlucky numbers, others may choose to embrace them in a playful way. Here are some ways to incorporate unlucky numbers into daily life:
Embrace the Challenge
Some people enjoy defying superstitions and purposely seek out unlucky numbers. This can be seen as a challenge or a way to push boundaries. For example, someone might choose to live in an apartment with the number 13 or wear a shirt with the number 666 on it. This can be a way to assert independence and reject societal norms.
Use Them for Fun
Unlucky numbers can also be used in a lighthearted way, such as in games or pranks. For example, playing a game of “unlucky bingo” where players try to get all the unlucky numbers on their card first. Or, pulling a harmless prank on a friend by telling them that their lucky number is actually an unlucky one.
Create Your Own Lucky Number
Rather than relying on traditional lucky numbers, some people choose to create their own lucky number. This can be a combination of numbers that hold personal significance or have positive associations. By creating their own lucky number, individuals can feel a sense of control and empowerment over their fate.
Examples of Unlucky Numbers in Popular Culture
Unlucky numbers have long been a popular theme in literature, film, and other forms of media. Here are some examples of how unlucky numbers have been portrayed in popular culture:
Friday the 13th
The most well-known example of an unlucky number is Friday the 13th. This day has been associated with bad luck and superstition for centuries, and has been the subject of numerous books, movies, and even a popular horror franchise. The fear of Friday the 13th, known as paraskevidekatriaphobia, is so widespread that many buildings skip the 13th floor and airlines often do not have a row 13 on their planes.
The Number 666
The number 666 has long been associated with evil and the devil in popular culture. This number appears in the Bible’s Book of Revelation as the “number of the beast” and has been used in horror films and books as a symbol of evil. In some cultures, the number is avoided altogether, while in others it is seen as a lucky number.
The Number 4
In Chinese and Japanese cultures, the number 4 is considered unlucky due to its similarity to the word for “death”. This number has been portrayed in various forms of media as a symbol of misfortune and danger. In the film “Final Destination 4”, the number 4 plays a significant role in predicting characters’ deaths.
Comparing Unlucky Numbers Across Cultures
While there are some similarities in the numbers considered unlucky across different cultures, there are also notable differences. For example, while the number 4 is avoided in Chinese and Japanese cultures, it is not seen as unlucky in Indian or Italian cultures. Similarly, while Friday the 13th is feared in Western cultures, it holds no significance in Eastern cultures.
These differences highlight the cultural and societal influences on superstitions and how they can vary greatly even within regions geographically close to each other. It also shows how personal experiences and beliefs can shape one’s perception of unlucky numbers.
Advice for Dealing with Unlucky Numbers
For those who struggle with fear or anxiety surrounding unlucky numbers, here are some tips for managing these feelings:
- Educate yourself on the origins and history of number superstitions. Understanding the irrationality behind them can help alleviate fears.
- Challenge your thoughts and beliefs about unlucky numbers. Question why you believe certain numbers are unlucky and if there is any evidence to support it.
- Practice mindfulness and grounding techniques when faced with an unlucky number. This can help bring you back to the present moment and reduce anxiety.
- Seek support from friends or a therapist if your fear of unlucky numbers is impacting your daily life. Talking through your feelings and fears can help put them into perspective.
- Remember that ultimately, numbers have no power over our lives and it is our own actions and choices that determine our outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any cultures that do not have superstitions around unlucky numbers?
Yes, some cultures do not have any specific beliefs or superstitions surrounding unlucky numbers. For example, in many African cultures, numbers are seen as neutral and hold no special significance.
Can unlucky numbers actually cause bad luck?
No, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that numbers have any influence on events or outcomes. Unlucky numbers are simply a product of cultural beliefs and superstitions.
Is it possible to change your lucky/unlucky number?
Yes, some people choose to create their own lucky number or change their perception of a previously unlucky number. However, this is a personal choice and does not change the actual luck associated with a number.
How can I overcome my fear of unlucky numbers?
Overcoming a fear of unlucky numbers involves challenging and changing your thoughts and beliefs about them. Seeking support from a therapist or practicing mindfulness techniques can also be helpful.
Are there any positive associations with unlucky numbers?
While unlucky numbers are typically seen as negative, some people may embrace them as a way to challenge societal norms or assert their independence. Additionally, creating one’s own lucky number can also be seen as a positive association with an otherwise unlucky number.
