Lucky Numbers

All over the world different cultures associate certain numbers with bad fortune. For example, fear of the number 13 (triskaidekaphobia) is common in many Western cultures and in Japan the number 4 is feared because its pronunciation is similar to the Japanese word for 'death'. But there are also lucky numbers.

In Chinese culture, the numbers 6 and 8 are considered very lucky. 6 represents happiness. The number 8 sounds very similar to an expression for 'prosper' or 'fortune'. The Chinese take these numbers seriously. In Hong Kong, there are apartment blocks where the top floor is numbered 68, although there are only 28 floors; and it's no coincidence the Beijing Summer Olympics opening ceremony took place at 8pm on the eighth day of the eighth month, 2008.

The number 7 is another number said to bring good fortune. This is probably connected with God's work on the world, the seventh day being a day of rest. The number 2 also has many positive connotations: in many Asian cultures there is a saying, 'good things come in pairs'. You'll also be familiar with the English rhyme for magpie-counting which begins 'one for sorrow, two for joy…'.

For me, though, all the numbers from 1 to 9 are lucky. Without them, how else would we get to enjoy kakuro puzzles?