In today’s modern society, many things that people do are linked with superstitious practices and beliefs.

Number 13…
In Western cultures, for example, number 13 is believed to be an unlucky number. In Scotland, not a single airport has terminal 13. Some streets do not hold house number 13. Many hospitals do not have room number 13 or a 13th floor. And Friday the 13th is considered to be a particularly unlucky day.

But there is no such superstition in Asia or in the Islamic world. In Japan, Friday the 13th is considered to be a particular lucky day.

So what are the true origins of the “Friday the 13th” myth?

No-one knows for sure. But many fingers point towards Christian believes…

• Eve tempted Adam with the apple on a Friday
• there were 13 people at the last supper of Jesus Christ, who was crucified on Good Friday
• The Knights Templar were arrested, tortured and burned on Friday October 13, 1307

Number 14…
Number 14 represents good luck in South American countries and bad luck in China (”shi si/fourteen” and “yao si/one-four” sounds like the Chinese version of “ten die” or “want to die” respectively.


Are you Number 13 or Number 14?
In this fantastic commercial, created by Saatchi & Saatchi, a guy’s attention is being drawn by a group of invisible people who are continuously shouting “thirteen, thirteen, thirteen…”.

Watch what happens. Hilarious!