why is the number 13 considered bad luck by some people?
959868
I don't think it's bad luck.  Check this out....\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triskaidekaphobia\n\nPlus in old times witches covens were said to have 13 members.
2233
Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of 13, a number commonly associated with bad luck in Western culture. While fear of the number 13 can be traced back to medieval times, the word triskaidekaphobia itself is of recent vintage, having been first coined by Coriat (1911; Simpson and Weiner 1992). It seems to have first appeared in the general media in a Nov. 8, 1953 New York Times article covering discussions of a United Nations committee. \n\nThis superstition leads some people to fear or avoid anything involving the number 13. In particular, this leads to interesting practices such as the numbering of floors as 1, 2, ..., 11, 12, 14, 15, ... (Sloane's A011760; the "elevator sequence"), omitting the number 13, in many high-rise American hotels, the numbering of streets avoiding 13th Avenue, and so on. \n\nApparently, 13 hasn't always been considered unlucky. In fact, it appears that in ancient times, 13 was either considered in a positive light or (more commonly) not at all (Adams). The association of bad luck with the number 13 has been attributed to the fact there were 13 people at the Last Supper of Jesus, although this association seems to have originated only in medieval times. \n\nThe association has also been linked to that fact that lunisolar calendars (such as the Hebrew and Chinese calendars) must have 13 months in some years in order to synchronize the solar and lunar cycles, while the solar Gregorian calendar  in universal current usage always has 12 months in a year. \n\nTriskaidekaphobia also may be related to Norse mythology, which tells how the god Odin invited eleven of his closest friends to a dinner party at his home in Valhalla, only to have his party crashed by Loki, the god of evil and turmoil, thus giving a total of 13 people. The legend goes on to related how Balder, one of the most beloved gods, tired to throw Loki out of the party, resulting in a scuffle and ultimately Balder's death with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. \n\nFear of the number 13 also leads to fear of Friday the thirteenth  (a fear recently dubbed paraskevidekatriaphobia), despite the fact that Friday turns out to be the most common weekday on which the 13th of a month can occur in the Gregorian calendar . The association of bad luck with Friday appeared in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in the late 14th century ("and on a Friday fell all this misfortune"), but references to Friday as a day associated with ill luck in general first appear around the middle of the 17th century (Mikkelson and Mikkelson). In particular, it appeared in numerous publications as a particularly unlucky day to start a new venture (beginning a journey, giving birth, getting married, moving, starting a new job, etc.) beginning around 1800 (Mikkelson and Mikkelson). \n\nWhile 13 is associated with the number of people at the Last Supper, the Crucifixion took place on a Friday, thus leading to an association of back luck with the combination of this number and day. Note that the association of Friday the thirteenth with the arrest of Jacques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templar, on Friday, October 13, 1307 by King Philip IV of France is a modern-day invention (Mikkelson and Mikkelson). \n\nParaskevidekatriaphobia is probably the most widespread superstition in the United States, possibly affecting tens of millions of Americans. Interestingly, a study by Scanlon et al. (1993) published in the prestigious British Medical Journal which analyzed the relation between health, behavior, and superstition surrounding Friday 13th in the United Kingdom by comparing the ratio of traffic volume to traffic accidents on Friday the 6th and Friday the 13th over a period of years found that, "The risk of hospital admission as a result of a transport accident may be increased by as much as 52%. Staying at home is recommended." \n\nWhile there does not appear to be hard evidence to support the claim, it has been suggested that $800 to $900 millio
663074
It's a superstition that it's considered bad luck to cross the path of a black cat.  According to the site I found on superstitions:\n\n"In ancient Egypt, the Goddess Bast was a black, female cat. Christians, wanting to rid society of all traces of other religions, convinced the ignorant that black cats were demons in disguise and should thus be destroyed. In the process, they also destroyed the kindly ladies who cared for the cats, believing them to be witches. Being demons, a black cat crossing your path would create a barrier of evil, cutting you off from God and blocking the entrance to heaven."\n\nOther things that are said to give you bad luck:\n\nWalking under an open ladder/any ladder\n\nSpilling salt (you have to throw a pinch over your shoulder)\n\nAn owl hooting three times (no more)\n\nSeeing three butterflies together(no more)\n\nLooking at the new moon over your left shoulder\n\nPutting a shirt on inside out\n\nRed and white flowers together (probably something stemming from the War of the Roses in England, where the houses of Lancaster and York [Red and White rose respectively as their house symbol] fought bitterly against each other for the throne)\n\nHearing a rooster crow at night\n\nA picture falling\n\nBreaking a mirror (7 years worth of bad luck!)\n\nOpening an umbrella indoors\n\nCrossed knives\n\n\n\nWow, some of those are strange, and there are more at the site I've got as my source.  Have fun reading!
314341
I think a family can bring the bad luck gene to you based on karma or good luck. Take a look at the Kennedy family. enuf said...  Balance life and create your own or let life create it for you. There is no answer Grasshopper. Happy Trails my new friend!
289570
Absolutely.  I find that the numbers 0-9 are extremely common in my life.  In fact, almost all the numbers I encounter are 0-9 or larger numbers made up with 0-9 as the digits.  That's so totally wierd, isn't it?  It's like I'm psychic or something.
1102030
Well, there is no such thing as luck. We only have fortunes / misfortunes, and unforseen occurances. you make your own destiny for the most part.
237628
I'll bet the conclusion showed that more accidents happened on Friday the 13th. Wanna know why? Because people get too wrapped up in trying to avoid "bad luck" that they are too easily influenced/distracted by other things that normally wouldn't faze them.\n\nBut I'm wrong, correct?
5893
Luck is largely a point of view.  If you have a positive outlook on life, and you take many chances where the odds of failure are low, then you may begin to view yourself as more lucky.
599748
i dont believe that anyone is born under a bad sign, however if u believe that then perhaps u are. life will imitate bad or good thougths. if u think good things then good things will happen to u but if your a negative type of person (no offense) then bad luck will follow u.
406288
Your darn Skippy it is, and it aint got anything to do with luck. Why do people say good luck when someones hearts broke or that just need advice. Look time goes by and at times we give up on a soul-mate but its out there someone for everone and whats so bad is some waste this time. With the wrong person hoping they will change or do this and that. Will your soul-mate enters your life you will now it you dont have to work on it to make it happen. If somebody is wasting another life they should run them off and wait on the next person. Looking for a soul-mate is wrong it will come to you when you least expect it.
1082416
I didn't know that, but it makes more sense because in numerology 616 add to a single digit of 4. (6+1+6=13, 1+3=4).  4 is considered and evil number, this has the same connotation as 13 which is really not 13 but 4.
78090
Origins\nThe origin of the Friday the 13th superstition has been linked to the belief that there were 13 people at The Last Supper of Jesus, who was crucified on Good Friday, but it probably originated in medieval times. It has also been linked to the fact that a lunisolar calendar must have 13 months in some years, while the solar Gregorian calendar and lunar Islamic calendar always have 12 months in a year. Another suggestion is that the belief originated in a Norse myth about twelve gods having a feast in Valhalla. The mischievous Loki gate-crashed the party as an uninvited 13th guest and arranged for Hod, the blind god of darkness, to throw a branch of mistletoe at Balder, the god of joy and gladness. Balder was killed instantly and the Earth was plunged into darkness and mourning as a result. Both the first and last explanations, however, seem more relevant to the superstition linked to having 13 people at the same table during a meal.\n\nEffects\nStrangely, there is evidence to suggest that Friday the 13th is actually unlucky for some. Psychologists have found that some people are especially likely to have accidents or fall ill on Friday the 13th. This has been attributed to such people feeling a heightened state of anxiety on that day. The Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina estimates that in the United States alone, $800 or $900 million is lost in business each Friday the 13th because some people will not travel or go to work. [1]\n\nThe date is also well-known in the motorcycle (biker) community: since 1981, motorcycle enthusiasts and vendors gather every Friday the 13th in Port Dover, Ontario, Canada. This tradition started on November 13, 1981 by Chris Simons as a gathering of approximately 25 friends. The event has grown substantially, with an estimated 100,000 people attending in August 2004, as well as music bands, vendors, a bike show, etc. [2]\n\nIn the Spanish-speaking world, it is Tuesday the 13th (as well as Tuesdays in general) that brings bad luck; a proverb runs En martes, ni te cases ni te embarques (on Tuesday, neither get married nor start a journey).
797483
Being superstitious is the only thing that will give you bad luck.  You'll do it to yourself!  I break all kinds of mirriors for fun and sometimes I line up rows of ladders and walk underneath all of them one after another in a room full of black cats running around.  I should be dead.. :)
227479
IMO, fb2kool is on to something.  Luck is used to describe a short series of events that appear to deviate from the average (when they simply contribute to the average).  The strange thing about probability is that the "average" never seems to happen.
149745
Why not? I believe that if i'm about to have bad lucks, no matter where i go or what i do, i will have it. So just chill up and enjoy
657281
The number 666 is often associated with bad luck etc. The number is from Revelation 13:18 and is the mark that the anti-christ will require that men and women will receive the mark in their hand or on their forehead and no one will be able to buy or sell without the mark. The anti-christ will be known by the number six hundred three score and six hence 666. \nBecause it is the mark of the anti-christ many have made it an unlucky number. the number is not unlucky but is an indicator of the anti-christ.
349908
Usually these numbers have recurred in a persons life several times, and they associate them with good things.  For instance, a child may say 5 is his lucky number because that was his number while playing t-ball.  Once you "pick" a lucky number, you tend to notice it in a good context for a very long time.  The truth is, it could be any number.