26 Fun Facts About The Number 13 You Will Think Twice
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According to numerology, 13 symbolizes change and transformation – perfect for a new year.
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A group of 13 is known as a “coven,” traditionally referring to a gathering of witches.
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The number 13 is associated with the element of air, bringing in more intellectual and creative energy.
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In Tarot, the 13th card is Death – but this actually symbolizes endings that can lead to powerful rebirths and new beginnings!
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Apollo 13, NASA’s lunar mission, had to abort after an oxygen tank exploded.
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Counting from zero there are thirteen numbers in a dozen!
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The ancient Sumerians believed the number 13 was sacred and related to their goddess of fertility, Ninlil.
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The number 13 is often considered unlucky in many cultures and superstitions.
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Some buildings, such as hotels and hospitals, often skip the 13th floor.
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The fear of the number 13 is known as triskaidekaphobia.
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Some airlines skip row 13 on planes.
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The death of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl was associated with the number 13.
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In Tarot, the 13th card in the Major Arcana is the Death card.
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In some sports, such as football and basketball, the number 13 is not often used because of its association with bad luck.
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In some cultures, it is considered unlucky to have 13 people seated at a table for a meal.
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1. Friday the 13 is an unlucky day.
In the Western world, Fridays on the 13th of a month are highly unlucky. This happens at least once a year, and the probability can increase to three times a year.
Friday coincided with the 13th of a month thrice in 2015: March, February, and November.
2. There is a biblical reference to number 13: “The Last Supper.“
The number 13 also reminds us of the 13 diners at the last supper. Judas, who betrayed Jesus Christ, was the 13th guest to arrive.
It was due to his betrayal that Jesus was arrested and crucified. The Christian community remembers the event.
3. Number 13 is sacred in Tibetan culture.
According to Tibetan culture, heaven has 13 layers, and the 13th layer is a desireless pure land. Moreover, the pilgrims offer their prayers and ask for mercy by making 13 rounds around Mt. Kailash.
So, Tibetans consider the number 13 holy, while in Western culture, it is regarded as a bad omen.
4. Franklin D. Roosevelt disliked dining with 13 people group.
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The President of the world’s most powerful country also feared number 13. Roosevelt was somehow a superstitious person. He avoided any travel on Friday the 13th and would stop dining with a group of 13 people.
His biographer, journalist John Gunther, provides all the information.
5. A Jewish male becomes obligated to follow Jewish law at 13.
The ritual is performed in the synagogue. The word “Bar Mitzvah” means “son of the commandments.” The new adult Jews are responsible for keeping the mitzvot based on ethics, like being good.
6. The Number 13 is considered lucky in Hinduism.
According to Western culture, the thirteenth number is unlucky. For Hindus, the thirteenth number brings good fortune. The 13th day in the Hindu calendar is called Thrayodashi.
Although 108 is the luckiest number in Hinduism, on the 13th day, devotees pray to Lord Shiva and observe a day-long fast. This fact makes the number 13 a positive number.
7. Auguste Comte created a 13th-month calendar.
In 1849, a French philosopher and sociologist introduced a calendar with 13 months and 28 days each month. The calendar is known as the Positivist Calendar.
The calendar has 364 days in total. The public refused to endorse it because they were unprepared for such a radical change.
8. Ethiopia follows a 13-month calendar.
Most countries use the Western Georgian calendar, which has 12 months, but interestingly, Ethiopia follows a calendar with 13 months.
The year has 12 months with 30 days, and the 13th month usually has five days five. However, one more day is added in a leap year, making it six days and six months.
9. Sikhism 13 has special significance as it translates into “the supreme.”
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The number 13 holds special significance as “Tera” in Punjabi, meaning “Yours.” In Sikhism, it symbolizes devotion to the Creator, to whom all belongs.
This is evident when Guru Nanak, the revered Sikh saint, reached the number 13 while counting and exclaimed “Tera,” acknowledging God. This is one of the interesting facts on 13.
10. In rugby, the number 13 jersey is typically worn by the outside center player.
In rugby, each player’s jersey number corresponds to their position on the field. The outside center wears the number 13 jersey, a key position responsible for defense and attack.
This player is often one of the fastest and most agile on the team, tasked with breaking through the opposing team’s line and creating scoring opportunities. The number 13 in rugby is thus associated with strength, speed, and tactical understanding.
11. The 13th letter of the alphabet, “M,” is associated with the Mafia in Italian-American culture.
In some cultures, the letter “M” is thought to symbolize the Mafia, particularly in Italian-American communities. This association stems from the fact that “M” is the 13th letter of the alphabet, and 13 is often seen as a symbol of secrecy or rebellion.
The connection is sometimes referenced in popular culture, including movies and television shows about organized crime. While not universally accepted, the association persists in certain circles as part of Mafia folklore.
12. “Triskaidekaphobia” means “the fear of 13“.
In books and movies, the number 13 seems to signal bad news. From Friday the 13th to thirteen dinner guests, someone dies or experiences terrible luck in all examples.
The word comes from the Greek “treiskaideka,” which means thirteen combined with phobia. Psychologist Isador Coriat first used it in 1910.
13. In the British TV series “Doctor Who,” Jodie Whittaker portrays the Thirteenth Doctor.
Jodie Whittaker made history as the first woman to play the Doctor in the iconic British sci-fi series “Doctor Who.” She was introduced as the Thirteenth Doctor in 2017, bringing a fresh perspective to the long-running character.
Her portrayal has been praised for its energy, warmth, and humor, attracting both new fans and long-time followers of the show. The number 13, often associated with change and transformation, marked a significant shift in the series’ history.
14. Tuesday the 13th is unlucky too.
In Greek and Hispanic cultures, Tuesday the 13th is believed to bring bad luck due to a string of unfortunate events.
For example, the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans on Tuesday, 29 May 1453, is one such event. The sum of 1453 adds up to 13, highlighting just one of many interesting, fun facts about the number 13.
Moreover, the perfection of 12 is also compromised.
15. The U.S. flag has 13 strips in red and white.
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The 13 alternating red and white stripes represent the 13 original British colonies that gained independence from the British Empire.
The original 13 British colonies were Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, and Rhode Island.
16. The 13th Rajab is a significant day in Islam.
On this day, Ali ibn Talib, the fourth caliph of the Rashidun caliphate, was born in Mecca, the most sacred city of Islam. He is the first imam of the shite sect in Islam.
He was the cousin and son-in-law of the prophet Muhammed, the founder of Islam. The Shia Muslims celebrate this day.
17. Devastating events happened on Friday the 13th.
Many catastrophic events have taken place on Friday the 13th. On Friday the 13th in 1972, a Russian plane crashed, resulting in 174 causalities. On the same day, a plane also crashed in the Andes.
In 2006, almost 400,000 people in New York experienced power outages due to heavy snowfall on Friday the 13th.
18. The 13th floor of the buildings is given another name.
The Atlantic studied buildings with 13 or more floors. Out of 629 buildings, only 55 were labeled on the 13th floor as the 13th.
Only 9 percent of buildings are named on the 13th floor. The remaining 91 percent renamed the floor.
19. Thinking Outside the Gregorian Calendar: Exploring a 13-Month Calendar and Facts About the Number 13
The international fixed calendar is a solar calendar with 13 months. It is also known as the Cotsworth Plan and the Eastman Plan. Moses B. Cotsworth presented it in 1902 in his book The Rational Almanac.
The calendar starts with equal repeating months and realigns the new year with the Winter Solstice.
20. The 13th full moon is called the blue moon.
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It can be seen roughly every two and a half years, but did you know some interesting, fun facts about the number 13? A lunar eclipse occurs when the reflected light from the moon is blocked by something before reaching the earth’s surface.
The color of white changes to blue. “once in a blue moon” refers to the rarest events.
21. There is a secret Society named “the Thirteen Club”.
The secret society, “The Thirteen Club,” existed between the 17th and 18th centuries. It was an elite club that loved number 13.
Captain William Fowler founded the club with Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, Chester A. Arthur, and Benjamin Harrison as members.
22. Statistics did prove Friday the 13th wasn’t the Unluckiest day.
Igor Radun published a study in 2004 that suggested that Friday the 13th had fewer accidents than any other day. However, the report couldn’t establish any pattern about Friday the 13th.
Therefore, from the perspective of science and reasoning, there is no need to be afraid of Friday the 13th.
23. The United States One Dollar Bill has 13 arrows, 13 stars, and 13 stripes, symbolizing the original colonies.
The number 13 is prominently featured on the U.S. One Dollar Bill as a nod to the country’s history. The 13 arrows clutched in the eagle’s left talon represent the original 13 colonies, signifying strength and unity.
Above the eagle’s head, 13 stars are arranged in a pattern, further symbolizing the unity of the colonies under one nation. Additionally, the shield on the eagle’s chest features 13 stripes, emphasizing the importance of the number in America’s foundation.
24. Taylor Swift is obsessed with the number 13.
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Taylor Swift herself explains why she likes the number 13. It is obvious because she was born on December 13.
She turned 13 on Friday the 13th, and her first album went gold in 13 weeks. Moreover, her first song that ever went number 1 had an intro of 13 seconds.
25. In the Colgate University tradition, 13 is considered a lucky number due to the university’s founding by 13 men.
Colgate University embraces the number 13 as a symbol of its founding history. The university was established in 1819 by 13 men determined to create a new institution of higher learning.
These founders contributed 13 dollars, held 13 prayers, and crafted 13 articles of faith, leading to the deep-rooted significance of the number. The tradition continues today, with the university celebrating “Colgate Day” every Friday the 13th.
26. The planet astronomer William Herschel discovered Uranus on March 13, 1781.
Uranus was the first planet to be discovered with a telescope, marking a significant milestone in astronomy. On March 13, 1781, German-born British astronomer William Herschel identified the planet while surveying the night sky.
Initially, Herschel thought it might be a comet, but subsequent observations confirmed it as a new planet. This discovery expanded humanity’s understanding of the solar system, with Uranus being the seventh planet from the Sun.
FAQS
There are many superstitions and beliefs surrounding the number 13. Some consider it unlucky, while others think it is a lucky number. Many buildings do not have a 13th floor, and some airlines do not have a 13th row.
There are a few theories on why 13 is considered an unlucky number. One theory is that it is linked to the Last Supper, where 13 people were present. Another is that it is related to the Norse god Loki, known for causing mischief.
Yes, some people consider 13 to be a lucky number. This is often because 13 is seen as a number of completeness and perfection. There are also 13 lunar cycles in a year, some people see promising.
Some people feel anxious or uneasy when encountering the number 13, while others may not think anything of it.
The number 13 has several famous uses. One is the number of stripes on the United States flag, and another is the number of original colonies in the United States.
The number 13 in numerology is considered a karmic number representing transformation, upheaval, and change, with positive and negative aspects. It can be associated with intuition, spiritual awakening, and the ability to adapt to change and transform oneself, but it is also sometimes associated with bad luck or superstition. The meaning of 13 in numerology depends on various factors, including personal numerology charts and cultural backgrounds.
Yes, 13 can be considered a unique number for various reasons. In many cultures, it is associated with superstition and bad luck; in others, it is seen as a powerful and transformative number. It is also a prime number, which means it can only be divided by one and itself. It is often skipped in building floors, hotel rooms, and airplane rows due to its perceived negative connotations. While 13 may have negative associations in some cultures, it is still a significant and exciting number with unique properties.
In many Western cultures, 13 is considered unlucky due to its association with adverse events. However, in other cultures, such as Chinese and Indian numerology, 13 is not regarded as unfortunate and can be seen as a powerful and transformative. Whether or not 13 is considered lucky depends on cultural beliefs and personal experiences.
The number 13 does not hold any particular significance in Hinduism. The religion instead emphasizes numbers such as 3, 5, 7, and 9, which are considered auspicious.
