Why is number 13 connected with bad luck in the West?
88702
Trust me on this one. There were 13 Roman gods. The thirteenth was known for his tricks and bad deeds. That is why 13 is beleaved to bad luck.\n\nP.S.\nGiggly Giraffe is correct if you count Jesus, but that has nothing to do with 13 being unlucky.
1140018
I don't understand. Given what to GOD? There is no bad luck by the way only circumstances.
1112244
bad luck..from the old italian days
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).
1083660
When mirrors were new they were very expensive. Only the very wealthy could afford them. If a servant broke one the master or Mistress would cause them so much grief that mirrors were considered  bad luck. The owners encouraged this so that the servants would be more careful. Like most superstitions this one is a way of making people aware of a danger that mignt not be paid attention to unless threatened with bad luck.
1024248
There's a lot of good answers here, and some not so good (when I have more time I'll explain the real difference between a witch and a wizard....)\n\nHere's one possibility not yet mentioned: the Death card in a Tarot deck bears the roman numeral XIII. Thirteen.\n\nJust a suggestion.
763887
Yes I do. \n1)I think its bad luck to wear other peoples wedding rings, \n2)If an eyelash falls off, you have to make a wish on it but you have to put it on your thumb and you cant look at where it goes when you blow it off.\n3)Its good luck when a butterfly lands on you\n4)If the doors are closed when youre sleeping, the ghosts cant get to you.\n5)the number 6 isnt a very happy number. If I see it repetivatly during the day, something bad is bound to happen to me.\n6)Dont walk on the wet grass in the morning, it will kill the little rolly pollys\n7)It think the superstition that eating black eyed peas on New Years is gay and doesnt work.\n8)If Im not nice to someone during the day when I know I should be, kaharma will bite me in the a s s\n9)Even numbers are good luck\n10)All evil thoughts directed to me can be wished back to them 100 fold (100 times)
1033367
13 - It brought bad luck only to his opponents though :)
870244
the story goes that if the clasp of the chain comes all the way down and touches the charm, it's supposed to signal good luck and you're supposed to make a wish before you fix it.\nI don't know how that story got started, and I have no stats on how accurate it is.
1105198
I doubt it's a curse/hex. Just think of it this way: If you've had a string of bad luck lately, that probably means that you're overdue for something really great. Keep your eyes open and you may soon come across a wonderful opportunity. I'm sure it will more than make up for it.
21171
It's a symbol of the fact that both good luck and bad luck will eventually pass.  Wikipedia has more at the link below.
747395
I found this site and quoted the site,  Please see the url in sources to find more information\n""Horseshoes were also considered lucky because they were made by blacksmiths, which is also considered a very lucky trade. Because they worked with elemental fire and magical \niron""\n\n""many believe that to hang it with the ends pointing upwards is good luck as it acts as a storage container of sorts for any good luck that happens to be floating by, whereas to hang it with the ends pointing down, is bad luck as all the good luck will fall out. Others believe that no matter which way you hang the horseshoe, good luck will come. According to this superstition, the ends-pointing-down display simply means that the good luck is able to flow out and surround the home. If the horseshoe is hung over a doorway, ends up will catch good luck and ends down will let the good luck spill over the door and stop evil from entering. ""
488087
good luck or bad luck does not exist friend, most of it are the consequence of our actions, or God just let it happen. by believing in luck, you are not submitting to God's authority in our life which means things can go into chances. you are not a product of a by-chance, you are not an accident, and so are the things around you.
860550
It's doing my head in.  Do these people not understand that it's random?  How can you have tactics?  Just pick a number and get on with it for ****'s sake.  \n\nI blame Noel and his "cosmic ordering" or whatever it's called.  \n\nWe can all write numbers on our hands in biro Noel - doesn't make you any more or less likely to win something.
89160
It is purely coincidence.\n\nCoincidence has always given people thought.\n\n“It is no great wonder if in the long process of time, while fortune takes her course hither and thither, numerous coincidences should spontaneously occur.  If the number and variety of subjects to be wrought upon be infinite, it is all the more easy for fortune, with such an abundance of material, to effect this similarity of results” – Sertorius Page 678.
300707
I don't think anybody has bad luck.Most everyone has to deal with a difficult situation every now and then but I think everything is about attitude.As long as you can see the positive side in things no matter how much "bad luck" you think you have things will look up.\nIam also a pisces by the way.
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.