Unlucky 13

It is hard to mark out the boundaries of superstition. A

Frenchman travelling in Italy finds almost everything

superstitious, and is hardly wrong. The archbishop of

Canterbury claims that the archbishop of Paris is super-

stitious the Presbyterians levy the same reproach against

his Grace of Canterbury, and are in their turn called

superstitious by the Quakers, who are the most super-

stitious of men in the eyes of other Christians.

Voltaire Philosophical Dictionary

Superstitions are beliefs and practices that are subjective and supported by rationale that lack complete objectivity. Ignorance and fear dominates the minds of those who try to use superstition as a tool to protect themselves from what they believe is ‘unknown’.

Just like our culture and tradition has been passed on to us from generation to generation, superstitions have also been neatly packed and transported to us within this gift hamper. Look at the cursed number 13, there are a number of stories behind why the double-digit 13 became infamous.The story I heard among the other ridiculous ones, claims that the cursed number 13 came into being thanks to our ancient Egyptian and Chinese counterparts.The members of ancient Egypt and Chinese civilizations are believed to have used their ten fingers and two feet to count which made the number 12 the highest numerical number they could count up to. Since the number 13 came immediately after 12 they started to think of it as an evil number as it was unknown to their clan! But then going by their logic shouldn’t every number after 12 be cursed?Ignorance of such sort was acceptable during the time of ancient civilizations but how does one explain civilized 20thcentury people running from the number 13?! Architects till date omit the 13th floor from buildings they build.

Imagine the directors and producers of Apollo 13 and Oceans Thirteen, they must really have B**** of steel! or may be the cursed numerics are responsible for the $334,100,000(Apollo 13) and $311,144,465 (Oceans Thirteen) box office collections of the two movies. Imagine their plight!They must be devastated!!!!