Humans are fearful creatures by nature. So much so that we attach specific meanings to certain numbers, whether it be positive or negative. But as wit

Humans are fearful creatures by nature. So much so that we attach specific meanings to certain numbers, whether it be positive or negative. But as with most things, we often choose to focus on the bad. For example, here in the west, many people steer clear of the number thirteen, whereas in other cultures it’s the complete opposite. There are so many superstitions surrounding numbers and this list is a collection of the top five ones from around the world. 1. The Number of the Beast: 666 For many people, the number of the beast sends a cold shiver down their spine. So much so that they develop hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia, which is the fear of the number 666. They’ll go out of their way to avoid anything that bears this “devilish” number, including in social security numbers, medical and personnel records, homes, highways and even flights. It’s not all bad though, like that time Flight 666 made it safely to its destination on Friday October 13, 2017. 2. Tuesday the 13th When the thirteenth day of the month lands on any day but a Friday, us westerners breathe a sigh of relief. But in Spain, Tuesday the 13th is truly the date to fear. That’s because in Spanish, Tuesday is called Martes after the Roman god Mars who was associated with war, violence and death. Moreover, it is said that the destruction of the Tower of Babel in the bible supposedly took place on Tuesday the 13th. Oh, and the city of Constantinople fell on Tuesday April 13, 1204. That’s why in Spain they go around saying: “don’t marry, go on a boat or leave your house on a Tuesday.” 3. Friday the 17th In Italy, the number seventeen is considered bad luck, while the number 13 is considered to be a good luck charm. So, what happens when the 17th falls on a Friday? It’s called a “black day” and Italians equip themselves with all sorts of lucky charms such as horseshoes and red horn pendants to ward off the negativity. But the fear surrounding this date amplifies tenfold if it falls in November, which is referred to as the “month of the deceased” due to the holidays All Saint’s Day and All Souls Day. 4. The Number of Good Fortune and Wealth: 8 Numerical superstitions aren’t always fear-inducing. Sometimes they can be used to bring wealth and success into our lives. Take for example the number 8 in China, which is regarded as an extremely lucky one, especially when it’s attached to streets, floors and buildings. The Chinese people include this number in just about everything, even business deals, like that time a Chinese developer bought an office building in Sydney for approximately $88,888,888. Sounds strange but hey, why don’t you give it a try? 5. The Number of Doom and Gloom: 4 To wrap this up, we’re back to numbers that spell out nothing but doom and gloom. And in this case, it’s the number four. This is specific to Asian countries like China and Japan, and they often go to great lengths to avoid it, even omitting it from supermarkets, planes, and buildings. It’s not at all uncommon for buildings to be missing a fourth floor! “Why is that?” you ask. The reason is because the number four, in many Asian languages, sounds similar to their word for death. In Japan, the number 49 will bring you even worse luck because it sounds a lot like the phrase “pain until death.”

Superstitions Surrounding Numbers

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