专题推荐：2008年“两会”英语学习专题

星期五13号恐惧症源于早期的基督教。耶稣基督被囚禁前最后的晚餐有13个人，而他是在星期五被钉死在十字架上的。自那以后，13就被认为是一个不祥的数字。不过从数字学上来讲，13代表务实、警惕和智慧，这一天出生的人在科学研究方面会比较有成就。

It all began in religious times. Friday the 13th phobia has its roots in the early days of Christianity. There were 13 people at Christ's Last Supper before his captivity, and then He was crucified on a Friday. Since then number 13 is regarded as an ominous and unlucky number. The latest example is ill-fated Apollo 13 lunar mission, which was aborted en route to the moon in 1970 because of a fuel cell in the service module. The flight left the launching pad at 13 minutes after the hour on April 13. In China also, 13 was regarded as a number of obstacles. In the ancient religion of Mexico, number 13 were considered the most fortunate number--since it symbolizes the Sun, the male and positive energy. In the Cabala, 13 is not regarded as unlucky. In the second book of the Moses, one can study the 13 attributes of God (Exodus34: 6-7). In numerology, it is a number of practicality, alertness, and intelligence. Those born on this date are very successful in scientific research and development. Their interests in religion and philosophy can bring them great fame and siddhis/ riddhis (powers that are believed to be supernatural). Are you more adamant about your fear of number 13? Would you consider living on floor marked 13 in unit 13? Most of the scientist world does not offer you any solid proof, but stating it is simply a superstition phobia. For centuries, the scary combination of Friday the 13th has portended misfortune to many across this world. The number 13 by itself has led many high-rise buildings to number of their floors 12 to 14. Although the West is famous for scientific technological wizardry and education, the number 13's superstition still has a powerful hold on many aspects of everyday life.

（来源: funtrivia.com 英语点津 Helen 编辑）