Welcome to July: Lucky Number 7
As we embrace the heart of summer, July brings with it the mystique of the number 7, often regarded as a harbinger of luck. So in this month’s edition of Talk of the Town, we delve into the enduring allure of the number seven from ancient times to modern-day culture.
What Is it About The Number 7?
The number seven has long held a space in human culture, often regarded as a symbol of luck and mystique. From ancient civilizations to modern-day superstition, seven’s charm is ubiquitous and fascinating. But why does this particular digit stand out among others?
Ancient Origins
The reverence for the number seven dates back to ancient times, across many cultures. In the Bible, the world was created in six days, and God rested on the seventh, creating the basis of the 7-day week we use to this day. In Hinduism, there are seven higher worlds and seven underworlds, and in Buddhism, the newborn Buddha is said to have taken seven steps at birth. In Mecca, Muslim pilgrims walk seven times around the Kaaba, the holiest shrine in Islam.
Ancient astronomers also contributed to the number’s significance. They observed seven celestial bodies visible to the naked eye: the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. This connection to the cosmos reinforced seven’s mystical allure.
Cultural Significance
When the 2nd-century Greek writer Antipater of Sidon created his now famous list of world wonders, how many did he include? From the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and Great Pyramids to the Temple of Artemis and Colossus of Rhodes, the ancient Greeks celebrated Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. And in Irish folklore dating back centuries, the 7th son of a 7th son is believed to possess special healing powers.
Seven also plays a pivotal role in modern literature. In the Harry Potter series, young wizards attend Hogwarts for seven years and Voldemort split his soul seven times to create the seven Horcruxes. And could you imagine if James Bond was Agent Double-Oh-Four or if Snow White encountered eight dwarves? Neither quite has the same ring without the number seven!
In cinema, there were Seven Samurai in Akira Kurosawa’s epic 1954 film—and the same number of gunslingers in the 1960 version of The Magnificent Seven starring Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen. And, of course, there were seven brides for seven brothers in the 1954 Academy Award-winning film of the same name, that was later named by the American Film Institute as one of the best American musical films ever made.
Unique & Unusual Casinos
You can’t discuss the number seven without including casinos. After all, it’s not triple 4’s that will get your heart racing at the slot machine! From the glitzy Las Vegas strip to Monte Carlo, casinos are known for being lavish and over-the-top. But they can also be unusual, historical and even quirky…
In the opal-mining town of Coober Pedy deep in Australia’s Outback, The Desert Cave Hotel is home to the world’s deepest gaming room. They call them pokies rather than slots, but you can try your luck nearly 100 feet underground in this small town—where more than half the population lives below ground to escape the intense desert heat.
It’s no longer in business but for a short while in 2016, the smallest casino in the world was a London taxi cab. There was no room for a craps table or slot machine, but the traditional black Hackney featured a blackjack table, a small screen hooked up to the Sky Sports channel, and a mini beverage fridge!
Just 12 miles outside of Lisbon, the historic Casino Estoril is one of the largest in Europe. Ian Fleming visited the casino during WWII when neutral Portugal was a hotbed of espionage and counterespionage. Many believe that Casino Estoril was the inspiration for his 1953 novel Casino Royale.
Seven in Sports
From the seventh-inning stretch to the best-of-seven World Series, NBA and NHL Playoffs, the number seven holds significance in sports. However, it isn’t the most popular jersey number among professional athletes. Michael Jordan’s No. 23 Chicago Bulls jersey is arguably the best-selling NBA jersey with fans, but No. 12 is the most popular among players, with over 400 choosing it. Indeed, No. 7 ranks as only the 9th most popular jersey number in the NBA.
But the number 7 has graced the uniforms of some of the world’s greatest athletes. In soccer, the number 7 jersey holds a lot of value and many of the world’s greats have worn it. Traditionally reserved for strikers and wingers who have the ability to break through an opponent’s defense, the No. 7 shirt has been worn by global football icons including David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Here in America, legendary athletes who have donned the No. 7 jersey include former Chicago Blackhawk’s team captain Chris Chelios, ranked among the NHL’s Top 100 Players. In the WNBA, 9-time All-Star and Hall of Famer Tina Thompson played in 395 games, averaging 14 points, while wearing No. 7 for the Houston Comets and later the Seattle Storm.
