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[quote]QUOTE: number 13 - it's perhaps biblical, like the number 6, being less than 7, which is perfection, so less than perfection. perhaps 13 is considered bad since it tries to be more than 12, which is another common 'good' number in the bible? [/quote] Actually the reason the number 13 is considered to be bad luck is a Biblical reference. It comes from the fact that the 13th guest (Jesus) at the final supper was killed. Ladders are the same. If you look at the shape a ladder makes it forms a triangle which has been equated to the Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost. For the Black cats it comes from the fact that Witches have been historicaly protrayed with having a black cat as a familiar. It used to be believed that if a black cat crossed your path you were to be marked as a victim of a witch. Breaking a mirror is one that I am not sure of the exact origin. It might have something to do with the fact that it was once believed that a mirror reflected the truth to the observer. I know that Railroaders also have thier own superstitions. Illinos Centeral Engineers used to believe that one of thier 4-6-0s was cursed. I cant recall the initial number or what it was later remunbered to, but the locomotive was the one that John Luther "Casey" Jones met his fate on. After his death IC rebuilt the loco and it had its fair string of bad luck and accidents. I do not know if what I have posted (other then the fact about Casey Jones's locomotive) is positively accurate it is just some information I have found when I was doing research on superstitions for a Psychology class I took.. Doug
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