Many Chinese people do not want the number FOUR in their house number or phone number. But: FOUR is a lucky number in Europe, North America and Australia. The FOUR-leaf clover is a symbol of luck.
The number 4 is lucky in Germany because it is a number that is associated with balance and evenness. Germans tend to keep this number close to them, such as wearing it on sports jerseys or choosing it for their lottery numbers.
The numbers 2, 3, 6, and 8 are generally considered to be lucky, while 4 is considered unlucky. These traditions are not unique to Chinese culture, with other countries with a history of Han characters also having similar beliefs stemming from these concepts.
The survey revealed one clear winner when it came to the UK's luckiest number, with 25% of the survey respondents claiming the number seven as their luckiest number.
France: 13 was traditionally considered a lucky number in France prior to the First World War, and was used in numerical form as a good luck symbol on postcards and charms.
But: FOUR is a lucky number in Europe, North America and Australia. The FOUR-leaf clover is a symbol of luck.
The number 13 is considered lucky in Italy. Associated with the Great Goddess, fertility and the lunar cycles, the number is thought to bring prosperity and life — quite the opposite view than that of the western world.
The number eight is one loved by Australian and American rev heads with the eight-cylinder known as a 'V8'. A V8 motor is an internal combustion engine with eight cylinders configured in two banks (rows) of four which are laid out in a “V” formation.
The number 108 is considered sacred by the Dharmic Religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
The number seven is usually the overwhelming favorite. Why is that? In many cultures around the world, seven is considered a lucky number. This probably explains the affinity many people feel for the number seven.
4. The number of order in the universe is 4—the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water; the four seasons; the four points of the compass; the four phases of the Moon (new, half-moon waxing, full, half-moon waning). The Four Noble Truths epitomize Buddhism.
There are six unlucky numbers in Japanese. Traditionally, 4 is unlucky because it is sometimes pronounced shi, which is the word for death. Sometimes levels or rooms with 4 don't exist in hospitals or hotels.
But the number four is considered unlucky because it sounds a lot like the word for “death,” and as a result Chinese buildings often lack a fourth floor (just as American buildings sometimes skip the 13th). Likewise, Chinese drivers avoid license plates ending in four.
For instance, a common superstitious practice is to buy homes with "lucky" addresses that end with 8 for prosperity and avoid those ending with 4 to avert bad luck.
As “7” is the lucky number , “13” is the unlucky one.
In Japan, the two main lucky numbers are seven (七) and eight (八). Curiously, unlike four, the reasons behind the two's luck have nothing to do with their pronunciation. Seven is a lucky number in Japan largely because of its significance in Buddhism. Additionally, seven is used with the Seven Gods of Luck (七福神).
11: Lucky 12
Just as 13 is considered one of the unluckiest of all numbers, 12 is considered the rare lucky number that happens to also be even. The origins of this superstition are sketchy, but some sources suggest that 12 gained its lucky rep simply because it's so nicely divisible.
786 is considered a lucky or holy number. Especially, the significance of this number in Islam is above everything. The number is believed as a numeric form of the Arabic phrase “Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim”, meaning, 'In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful'.
The Number 7
On one hand, the sound of the Chinese word for 7 (七 qī) corresponds with that of positive words like 齊 (qí; uniform, even), 气 (qì; life force, energy) and 起 (qǐ; to stand up). Seven is thus usually considered a lucky number for relationships.
In the US, as well as in many Western cultures, the numbers 3, 7 and 12 are considered lucky.
Although nowadays beliefs in lucky and unlucky numbers are often regarded as superstitious, Chinese people still keep such beliefs. A number is an important tool in accessing Chinese culture. The luckiest numbers are 8, 9, 6, and 2, while 4 and 7 are the two unlucky numbers.
However, the number 9 ('kao') is the luckiest of them all: it is thought to be lucky because, when pronounced in Thai, it sounds like 'moving forward' ('kaw-nah' – while it doesn't look similar, it sounds similar!). Furthermore, 'kao' is the word for 'rice' and 'let's go eat' (gin kao!)
The number 7 is considered a lucky number in countries such as Netherland, the U.K., France, China and the U.S. One of the reasons the number is considered lucky is due to the fact that the ancient world has 7 wonders and 7 planets.
The number 13
This is no coincidence. In Brazil, thirteen is a powerful number, surrounded by mystery and beliefs. While half of the population believes this is a lucky number, the other half of Brazilians think 13 is a cursed number. So, would you choose the number 13 in your lottery ticket or not?