Saturday, December 5, 2015

Fortune and Misfortune Number Around the World

Every western world think 13 is unlucky number. Is that right? Not all the western world say that 13 is unlucky. In Italy, thirteen is truly lucky number while 17 is unlucky.  Some country lucky number and unlucky number were much different in the western countries. Like in Hong Kong or other western influence Asian country, an elevator button number 4 and 13 were skipped. Here what I learned from every countries:
Number 7
Every western world believe 7 is extremely lucky number. I see lot of 7 in casino slot. In the Daily Mail, the poll of 30,000 peoples vote 7 is their favorite number along with 3 and 5. There are seven days of the week, seven continents, seven colors of rainbow, seven notes of musical scale, and seven seas. Famous novelist like Ian Fleming, he didn’t 006 or 008 for James Bond; instead, he put 007 as James Bond agent number. The true reason why 7 is lucky number is because God made seven days of the week. There are seven wonders of the world along with seven ancient planets of the world.
However, not all the world think 7 is everybody number. In China, Vietnam, Thailand, and other Chinese influenced countries, they say 7 is seventh month or July. July is ghost month in oriental countries. It is not how Halloween celebrate in Asia. This ghost month is where people pay respects to the death. Mostly, the death is known as “Unfair Death”, and houses must offer fruit and food to the death or they will be haunted.
Number 13 
Most of all western world believed the 13 is extremely unlucky number. The number have associated to many dreadful events in the past. Jesus thirteen disciple is Juda Iscariot, Jesus’s disciple who betrayed Jesus. Juda felt guilty and committed suicide by hanging. From the Mayan Calendar to the Last Supper to the Order of Killing the Knight Templar, Templar contain the number thirteen. Well infamous day called Friday the 13th. Well know first slasher movie title was called Friday the 13th. This slasher movie is about group of teenagers who are murdered one by one while attempting to reopen an abandoned campground. However, Friday the 13th is associated with bad event like Paris Shooting 2015.
In Italy in contrast to all western country, thirteen is good number in Italy. The number represent St. Anthony in Italy, a patron saint of finding things or lost people.
Number 4
In Germany, four is lucky number along with seven because four is associated with four-leaf clover. The four-leaf clover is rare variation of the common three-leaved clover. Four-leave bring good luck to their finders. In addition, four leave is represent something: the first leaf is for faith, the second leaf is for hope, the third is for love, and the forth is for luck.
In China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea and other Chinese or Japanese influence, four is equivalent to thirteen.  Their language pronunciation of the number four is similar to that of the Chinese word for death. In most Chinese or Japanese influenced countries, number 4 or number end with 4 were omitted even the parking lot number, table number, and model number.
Number 8 
Most Sinosphere countries including China, Japan, and Vietnam, eight is exactly same as seven in Western. Number 8 in both Chinese and Japanese sound similar to prosper and money.
In India on other hand, eight is misfortune number. Eight is the number of Sani which is relation breaker, peace breaker, and lethargic kind of personality.
Number 9
In Chinese, number nine is the number of the emperor. In Norwegian, Norway mythology contain mostly 9 in their story. Nine in Norwegian is really a sacred number.
In Japan unlike Chinese and Norway, number nine is consider unlucky along with number four. Number nine pronunciation in Japanese is sound similar to “suffering.”
Number 2
In China, two is consider lucky number. Although that two is smallest number, two is associate with double, twinned, and again. It is an auspicious number in Chinese, because Chinese people believe that good things come in pairs.
Number 3
So many reason why three is second favorite number behind seven. In China, three is consider luck due to featured in many Chinese philosophers saying. Similar to Sweden, there is an idiom for three: “All good things must come in three.” In Italy, three represent a triangle,  simple for strength  and balance. Three is also number of wishes we can have.
Three isn’t good fortune in Japan and Vietnam. Not very popular number, but there a superstition that if a photo was taken with three person, and it is likely the middle person will die.
Number 666 
In all Christian countries, the number 666 is number of Satan or beast. But in China, 666 mean “everything goes smoothly”. Lucky 666 charm can often be seen on neon or store sign in China.
Number 39 
Number 39 is unlucky number for Afghanistan. Number 39 is the cursed number. The word is roughly sound similar to “dead cow”, and the number can be misfortune through various scenario.
Whole Number 
In this case, lucky number not just applied to specific number. It can apply to every number. In Russia, even number isn’t good number because of the explanations is related to flower. Even numbers of flower are only to be brought in funeral and shouldn’t given to a person. Odd number of flower is good answer to give to one person.
There are more number can be good and bad. As you can see above do not be too superstitious about numbers because they can mean different in different cultures. If you know more about number culture please respond to me.

MSSU Choir Christmas Concert

In the evening in St. Peter’s the Apostle Catholic Church, I arrived at the church at 19:00, but it was to crowded that I can’t find the seat. Fortunately, Michael Gregory, St. Peter’s music director, showed me the seat the front. After I find the seat, I was listening the MSSU band playing Christmas music, but most of music was not listed in the flyer. Concert was not started until 19:30. I decided walked around until that time.
At 19:30, the choir from Missouri Southern Concert Chorale arrived on stage and sung “Personent Hodie.” The choir sang in Latin, but the green flyer gave me a translation. The concert is not go to singing most typical Christmas song such as “Jingle Bell”. The second song is “Alleluia”. I seen that title so frequently in church. The song was composed by Ralph Manuel. The third song, “O Day Full of Grace”,  was sung in English and even the forth song “Jubliate Deo”. First of four songs that I really interested is all.
In the interlude, Concert Chorale moved out, and Missouri Southern Chamber Singers arrived on stage. First song, O Magnum Mysterium composed by Daniel Elder is very admirable song. The second song “There Is No Rose” is good. This song is about well ancient text. Rose is referred to Christ-child. Third song, “Hodie Christus Natus Est” composed by Jacobus Gallus Carniolus,  was also wonderful song.  Just near the interlude, Chamber Singers sung “All That Hath Life and Breath”. This song is energetic composition full of contrasting sections of tempo, style, tonality, and character was written for the Wichita State A Cappella Choir. After the song was over, Chamber moved out.
Missouri Southern Jazz Unlimited arrived on stage. First song they going is one of French Christmas Chanson, “Allon, Gay Bergeres (Let’s go gaily, Shepherdesses)”. This chanson explores the non-sacred side of the season by way of the sacred. NOT intended to be a mockery. It’s also propose  to create a spirit of celebration of the birth of the Christ. The other song called “All of Me” by Seymour Simons and Gerald Marks.  This lovely jazz song has become on the the most recorded songs in Jazz Era. After the song ended, the Jazz moved out.
Concert Chorale arrived on stage again. The conduct waited until the church bell done ringing. The song was sung in German. The beautiful song that feature some orchestra and it called Schwingt freudig euch empor, Kantate Nr. 36 composed by well-known composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. I am really a strong fan of classical music. In the first four part, the Chorale sung in German. During the fourth part, Chorale suddenly sung in English and the audience sang including Michael Gregory. Second part excluding the seventh part the Chorale sung in German again until the final part of the eighth. The audience sang again. After the Bach song over, Chorale moved out for 20 minutes break. I really like this song, but I didn’t hear the seventh part. I would listen at home for full song.
During 20 minutes break, I went out to talking my buddies and my parish of St. Peter’s. Some audience leaved early. After 20 minutes break, the Chamber are coming to the stage.
Chamber sang “Two Villancios de Navidad”. The song was a combination of two song: “E la Don Dong Verges Maria” and “Ríu, Ríu, Chíu”. The song is characterized by heavy syncopation, mode mixture, and rhythmic dance. They fit together nicely and are intended to create a feeling of good cheer , will, and celebration. Another song called “Ave Maria”.  NO, It’s not Franz Peter Schubert or Johann Sebastian Bach creation. It was composed by Franz Biebl. Text is unique in its conjoining of two sources. The first source is the thrice-daily devotional exercise called Angelus. It consists of a repeated “Hail Mary”. Chamber sung the last song, “Glory to the Newborn King”. NO, the song is not referring to “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”. The song is six spirituals using the techniques of classic hymnody, blues, doo-wop, and jazz – all moving toward a rapturous finish with the ring of 9-part harmony. After the song ended. Chamber gave the big bow and leaved.
The Jazz came to the stage again. This time Jazz sung one of classic Christmas rock song know as “Jingle Bell Rock”. The arrangement was so beautiful. Another song called “The Christmas Song”. It is considered one of the most well-known Christmas pop tunes ever. The song was written at the height of summer in the blistering heat. Jazz sung the last song called “I Love the Winter Weather/I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm”.  After the song was over, the Jazz made a final bow and leaved offstage.
Southern Symphony Orchestra arrived on stage. They sung the first song called “Lullaby”. Again no, it’s not a typical lullaby like “Rock-a-bye Baby”. Referring to “O Magnum Mysterium”, “Lullaby” is the third and final installment in a cycle of nocturnes for mixed chorus and piano.  A set that explores both observational and psychological experiences associated with love, nature, darkness, and light. The beauty of this lyric lies in its dual nature, it’s also serves to comfort those who devastate over loss.  Another song that Symphony is called “Ding Dong Merrily on High”. After the song over, they sang “Go Tell It On the Mountain”.  Then, the choir sung Andy Williams biggest hit, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”. The song was rearranged by Hawley Ades. The song depicts the celebratory events of the season such as hosting parties, caroling, and the telling of “scaring ghost stories”, which have to do with a Victorian tradition of stories such as Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Finally, the choir the closing song called “O Holy Night”. The choir was arranged around the audience. The numerous soloists, choruses, and orchestras have performed this famous carol – a favorite for most at this time of year!
After the Christmas Concert was over, I had to went home because it is too late. The time of concert was taken barely three hours. For future, I would attend again.