13 Facts About the Number 13

Since today is Friday the 13th, I figure why not learn a few facts about the "unlucky" number 13. Those who believe on this day that something bad will befall on them more likely will manifest an event of that type. Therefore, if you believe you will have bad lucky today then you will. But have you ever thought about how the number 13 affects our culture past and present.

1. There are 13 months in the pagan lunar calendar.

2. More than 80 percent of high-rises lack a 13th floor.

3. 13 turns make a traditional hangman's noose. Anything less would not complete the execution.

4. Airplanes have no 13th seat and airports skip the 13th gate.

5. Hospitals and hotels regularly have no room number 13.

6. Italians omit the number 13 from their national lottery.

7. On streets in Florence, Italy, the house between number 12 and 14 is addressed as 12 and a half.

8. Many cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue

9. In France, socialites known as the quatorziens (fourteeners) once made themselves available as 14th guests to keep a dinner party from an unlucky fate.

10. On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Phillip IV of France ordered the arrest of the Grand Master of the Knights Templar and his senior knights and other members who were tortured in to admitting "wrongdoings" and executed.

11. In British tradition, Friday was the conventional day for public hangings, and there were supposedly 13 steps leading up to the noose.

12. There were 13 people present at The Last Supper (Jesus and the 12 Apostles).

13. Alfred Hitchcock was haunted by the number 13 which is why he incorporated it in some way in many of his movies. He would have turned 100 on April 13th, 1999 which happened to be a Friday.

Comments

Courtney Mroch said…
Ooo! I love the #13 with Alfred Hitchcock...and wonder what he would say about you putting that as your 13th fact? Fun!
Anonymous said…
Kool....
In Japan, it's the number four. The Japanese pronunciation of four, 'shi', sounds like the pronunciation for hell, and in Japanese folklore, the fourth realm is the realm of the dead. There, they leave four off of hospital doors and high-rises, too. It's interesting how so many cultures are so interested in numbers.
MPB said…
Also, the Mayans believed that the world preceeding this one ended after 13 b'ak'tuns (roughly 5125 years). Some people believe that our world will also end when the 13th b'ak'tun is completed on 21 December 2012, even though there is no basis for it in known Mayan writings.
Anonymous said…
Thanks for the information. I really needed it for my project and was perfect information for it too. I am doind the number 13 and these facts will do well in it. Thanks! :)

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