Why is the number 13 superstitious?

smartie806

Thirteen may be considered a "bad" number simply because it is one more than 12, which is a popularly used number in many cultures (possibly due to it being a highly composite number). When a group of 13 objects or persons is divided into two, three, four or six equal groups, there is always one leftover, "unlucky" object or person. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13_%28number%29 Dec 12 06, 3:53 PM

What-A-Mess

Triskaidekaphobia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triskaidekaphobia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triskaidekaphobia Dec 12 06, 4:03 PM

skysmom65

As lucky, unlucky, or significant number See also: Triskaidekaphobia 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 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", either by numbering it "14" (though it's really still the thirteenth floor) or by designating the floor as "12a" or something similar. 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 (see Friday the 13th), a Tuesday in the Greek and Spanish-speaking world, or a Monday in Russia. Months with a Friday the 13th always begin on a Sunday. According to another interpretation, the 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. http://www.answers.com/topic/thirteen Dec 12 06, 4:10 PM

zbeckabee

Sitting down thirteen at dinner, in old Norse mythology, was deemed unlucky, because at a banquet in the Valhalla, Loki once intruded, making thirteen guests, and Baldur was slain. In Christian countries the superstition was confirmed by the Last Supper of Christ and His twelve apostles, but the superstition itself is much anterior to Christianity. http://www.bartleby.com/81/16422.html Dec 12 06, 4:14 PM

zbeckabee

This link credits the Egyptians. The Egyptians were the first to develop a superstition for the number thirteen, but for them the number brought good luck. They believed that there were twelve steps on the ladder to eternal life and knowledge and to take the thirteenth step meant going through death into everlasting life. Thirteen, for the Egyptians, was associated with immortality. http://www.csicop.org/superstition/library/thirteen.html Dec 12 06, 6:46 PM

hintmaster

Here a very usful site on that http://www.infoplease.com/spot/friday13th.html Dec 12 06, 7:59 PM

zbeckabee

hintmaster--That is a great site! Dec 12 06, 10:05 PM