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7-7-07 seen as one lucky day - Lucky? |
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Written by Rebecca Boyle for NEXTnc
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Friday, 06 July 2007 |
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Why is '7' Considered Lucky?
Seven is much more than a lucky number. Sometimes it seems as if seven is the most ubiquitous -- and maybe the most important -- numeral of all, in mathematics, science, nature, theology and mythology.
Here's a sampling of seven's sweeping significance:
* We refer to the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Only one still exists: the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.
* There are Seven Wonders of the Natural World, and there is a new contest to name seven new modern wonders. They will be announced on Saturday.
* Seven is a prime number, meaning it cannot be obtained by multiplying two smaller numbers together.
* Rome was built on seven hills.
* Magellan sailed "the seven seas." There are seven continents.
* Seven colors comprise the rainbow. There are seven unique notes on the musical scale, seven days in the week and the phases of the moon last approximately seven days.
* A common ladybug has seven spots.
* There are seven periods, or horizontal rows of elements, on the periodic table.
* Almost every religious tradition or ancient creation story has seven as a key number:
* Seven is a highly symbolic number in the Torah, the Jewish text. David was the seventh son of Jesse; the menorah has seven candles; and God rested on the seventh day of Creation.
* The number seven is used 507 times in the Bible.
* There are seven deadly sins and seven virtues. Seven requests make up the Lord's Prayer, and The Book of Revelation refers to the seventh seal, the seventh son and the seven heads of the Beast.
* Jesus told Peter that he should forgive someone who sinned against him 70 times 7 times.
* In Roman Catholicism, the Virgin Mary has seven joys and seven sorrows.
* Buddha walked seven steps at his birth.
* In Islamic tradition, seven is used to symbolize infinity; there are seven heavens and seven earths.
* Ancient Egyptians thought there were seven paths to heaven. Seven oxen pull the sun across the world in early Scandinavian lore.
* There are seven sages in Hindu mythology and seven candles are lit during the seven-day celebration of Kwanzaa.
* In Iran, cats are said to have seven lives, not the nine that Americans are accustomed to saying.
* There are seven rings given to the Dwarf Lords in "Lord of the Rings."
* Seven Dwarfs tended to Snow White.
* In the Harry Potter novels, seven is the most powerfully magical number: Harry was born in July, the seventh month of the year (and the month when the final -- the seventh -- installment of the series will be released); Wizard students must complete seven years of school at Hogwarts; and the evil Lord Voldemort splits his soul into seven parts, which he believes ensures his immortality.
* And who in Colorado could forget the state's most famous No. 7: Broncos quarterback John Elway.
-- Compiled by Rebecca Boyle
Sources: Tribune research; Wikipedia.org; Oxford American Dictionary; New American Bible, Matthew 18:22; UrbanDictionary.com; Knoxville (Tenn.) News-Sentinel online; National Public Radio; Poynter.org; "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince;" Encyclopaedia Britannica online | Only registered users can write comments.
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