Ridiculous History

Unlucky Numbers Across The Globe -- And Why They Are Ridiculous

Sep 2, 2025
Dive into the whimsical world of numbers as the hosts share hilarious stories about their personal lucky and unlucky digits. Discover how cultures worldwide view numbers with both reverence and humor, particularly the infamous number 13 and its ominous reputation. Explore why some consider 4 unlucky in Asia, while others shy away from 23. With a blend of history and superstition, this dive into numerology reveals how these beliefs shape behaviors and even marketing strategies, making math far from mundane!
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ANECDOTE

Hosts' Personal Number Stories

  • Max shares that 41 is his favorite number and it features in his fantasy football lore.
  • Noel recounts obsessing over 845 from childhood cut-up poetry and sees it everywhere.
INSIGHT

Why Arabic Numerals Dominate

  • Arabic numerals originated in India and spread via the Islamic world before reaching Europe.
  • Fibonacci and Al-Khwarizimi helped popularize the system in Western mathematics.
INSIGHT

Numbers Carry Cultural Meaning

  • Humans assign symbolic meanings to numbers beyond their quantitative value.
  • Those meanings can be casual preferences or deadly serious cultural taboos.
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