Friday 13th - lucky for some, including you?

It’s Friday the 13th, and in some parts of the globe and among some people, Friday the 13th is considered unlucky. It’s one of several superstitions that some people indulge in. Golfers have their lucky putter, and footballers have their lucky sox or boots. Some people think you will attract bad luck if you walk under ladders or tread on the lines in the sidewalk.

Chinese people have their own share of superstitions and lucky or unlucky charms and activities. Probably the one that most outside China are aware of is the number 4. The Chinese word for 4 sounds like the word for death, and as a consequence, people steer clear of the number. And it is not just a silly superstition - high rise buildings throughout China often skip the 4th floor in the numbering of the floors. And in homage to the equivalent Western superstition, they also skip the 13th floor. So it’s not uncommon to see elevator buttons running 10, 11, 12, 15.

On the other side of the ledger, the number 8 is considered to be a lucky number. The Chinese word for 8 sounds like the word for wealth, so you will often see people sporting a car registration number ending in 8. The mobile phone companies in China sell numbers ending in 8 for a premium, while numbers ending in 4 sell at a discount.

There are many other activities and customs in China that are meant to be lucky or unlucky. At Chinese New Year, one must not sweep the floor in case you sweep away the good fortune that the new year brought. At funerals there are certain customs that are meant to be performed. One should wear white to a funeral in China, not black

There’s also a superstitious aversion to second-hand or used products. Many believe they’ll inherit whatever bad luck or misfortune of the item’s previous owner. For that reason, estate sales, which typically happen after bankruptcies, divorces, or deaths, rarely occur in China.

Another custom in China is that it is not considered lucky or wise for women to drink cold drinks during their menstrual period.

One custom that I still laugh about is the idea that eating certain parts of the animal enhances your health in that part of your body. I laugh because at a banquet many years ago, I was forced to eat bull penis, as was my 50-something travelling companion. His 25-year old son who was travelling with us was told he didn’t need to eat it because he is still young.

So Friday the 13th is unlucky for some people. But why not make it lucky for you? Go to www.conference.az-china.com and register for the 5th Biennial AZ China Conference. The Early Bird pricing expires on May 31, so there is not much time to waste. The omens are good, and registering on Friday 13th means you will be doubly lucky today.

See you in Shanghai!