Number 5
The Meaning of Number 5
Five is the number of balance.
Five symbolizes man, health and love.
Five is the number for marriage.
It combines the female number two with the male number three.
The Pythagoreans thought of five as " hieros gamos", the marriage between heaven and earth.
Five is the number of the human being.
The number five symbolizes the four limbs and the head that controls the limbs.
There are five senses: sight - hearing - taste - smell - touch.
Leo is the fifth astrological sign in the Zodiac. (July 23 - August 23)
Number five is the number of Mercury. Number five is lucky for Gemini and Virgo.
In the Tarot five is the card for the Pope.
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"High Five" is a social gesture of celebrating.
There are five vowels in the English alphabet.
Pentasyllabic is a pentasyllabic, a word that has five syllables.
In science, Boron has the atomic number 5. 
A limerick is a five-line poem, often humorous.
There are five arms on a regular starfish.
An earthworm has five hearts.
Basketball is played with five players on the team.
Five is the number of musicians playing in a quintet.
There are five parallel, horizontal lines in a staff (or some may say stave) which holds parts of music.
The Five Olympic Rings symbolize the five continents.
Punch is named after the Hindu word meaning five. There are five ingredients in punch: water, lemon juice, sugar, spice and spirits.
In many Hindu weddings it is customary to place five auspicious items into the knot of the rope or cloth that is used during the ceremony. When a couple gets married "tying the knot" literally means tying two loose ends together. This may be a scarf or a piece of other clothing the bride and bridegroom are wearing or holding.
The five auspicious items are:
1. Flower – happiness
2. Coin – money
3. Durva grass – everlasting love
4. Turmeric – physical and mental health
5. Rice - food
Number five was the lucky number of Coco Chanel. The famous and highly successful perfume, Chanel No 5, was launched May 5, 1922.
"I always launch my collection on the 5th day of the 5th months, so the number 5 seems to bring me luck - therefore, I will name it No 5" - Coco Chanel
A wood anniversary celebrates five years in the western culture.
James Monroe was the fifth president of the United States. 1817 - 1825.
He is famous for the Monroe Doctrine stating that European colonization in America would not be tolerated and that the U.S. would not interfere in European affairs. Monroe was a slave owner, but he believed in a diplomatic end to slavery. He supported the freed slaves’ colonization in Liberia.
James Monroe's signature
Five states were admitted to the Union when
James Monroe was President.
1. Mississippi – December 10, 1817
2. Illinois – December 3, 1818
3. Alabama – December 14, 1819
4. Maine – March 15, 1820
5. Missouri – August 10, 1821
The Hamsa Hand
This amulet is very common in the Middle East. It is used by both Jews and Muslims. The amulets are used as a magical protection against the evil eye. Hamsa means five.
The amulet has no little finger, but two balanced thumbs, the eye in the palm protects against the evil eye.
The Jews will often call it "The Hand of Miriam". Miriam was the sister of Moses and Aron. It may also represent the 5 books of the Torah.
The Muslims will often call it "The Hand of Fatima". Fatima was the daughter of the profet Muhammad. It may also represent the 5 pillars of Islam.
The Hamsa Hand is often worn by peace activists in the Middle East, as it is a common symbol for both Jews and Muslims.
The Luther Rose
There are five symbols in the Luther Rose. The Luther Rose or Luther Seal is a symbol for Lutheranism. It was designed for Martin Luther in 1530.
The cross: faith - The heart: love - The white rose: peace - The blue sky: heavenly joy - The yellow circle: eternity
David was only equipped with five pebbles when he killed the giant Goliath. "Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in his shepherd’s bag or wallet; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:40.
The fifth day of the Chinese New Year is devoted to the God of Wealth.
Many shops may open with sales on this day.
The Dragon Boat Festival occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. It is often called the "Double Fifth".
In Asia there are five elements: Wood – Fire – Earth – Metal - Water
The Ancient Egyptians believed every person was made up of five elements
| Akh | The form the dead had in the Underworld. It was the result of the reunion of the Ka and the Ba. |
| Ka | The creative life force, it continued to live even after death |
| Ba | Personality |
| Name | The name of an individual was considered important for survival |
| Shadow | It was necessary to protect the shadow from all harm |
It was believed that migratory birds were incarnations of the Ba. The Egyptians believes these birds could fly freely between the Underworld and the tomb.
The physical body of the dead had to be reunited with the Ba in order to survive in the Underworld. For this reason many coffins were decorated with figures of birds.
In Greek mythology there were five rivers of the Underworld, Hades.
1. Acheron – The river of pain
2. Cacytus – The river of wailing
3. Phlegethon – The river of fire
4. Lethe – The river of forgetfulness
5. Styx – The river of hate
The Fifth Sun
The Aztec people believed they lived in the age of the Fifth Sun. In the center of their calendar stone is the image of the sun god named Tonatiuh. He was also known as "the Fifth Sun".
He is surrounded by symbols of the four previous suns/ages of the world. Tonatiuh required human sacrifice to ensure he would be reborn every morning.
A gorinto is a five layered pagoda. The name means five rings. It is found in Japan. The gorinto on the picture is used as a grave marker. The five shapes symbolize of the Five Elements: earth, water, fire, air and either energy or void.
There are Five Great Lakes on the border of Canada and the United States. The Five Great Lakes are: Lake Eirie - Lake Huron - Lake Michigan - Lake Ontario - Lake Superior.
King for Five Days
King John I was king of France for only five days. He was king from November 15, 1316 to November 20, 1316. He was an infant king. Many believed his uncle Philip was responsible for his death. His uncle became King Philip V. There were also rumors the infant king had been kidnapped and replaced with a dead baby.
Five Victims
"Jack the Ripper" murdered five women around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888.
He was also known as "The Whitechapel Murderer" and "Leather Apron".
The murders were never solved and the identity of Jack the Ripper/Leather Apron remains unknown.
The five victims were:
| Mary Ann Nichols |
| Anne Chapman |
| Elizabeth Stride |
| Catherine Eddowes |
| Mary Jane Kelly |
November 5, 1605: Guy Fawkes was involved in a plan to blow up the House of Parliament in London. The plot was hindered.
November 5th is known as “Guy Fawkes Night” or “Bonfire Night”. Effigies of Guy Fawkes are burned on bonfires in all parts of the U.K.
The Pentagram - the five-pointed star
Throughout time the pentagram has been used by many as a magical and sacred symbol.
Cut an apple in two across the "equator". You will find that the seeds in each half form a pentagram.
Eve gave Adam the apple of knowledge, the pentagram became a symbol of wisdom and the power to make choices. It also symbolizes the figure of a human with outstretched arms and legs.
The Pythagoreans believed the pentagram to symbolize health and light. It was a sacred symbol.
It was the symbol of the Greek goddess of health, Hygeia. The pentagram represented higher knowledge. They could also use it as a secret sign to recognize each other.
The Five points symbolize spirit, air, fire, water and earth.
Sir Gawain, a knight of King Authurs Round Table, had a pentagram on his shield. He was said to be "faithful five ways and five times each".
The pentagram is a symbol of the Bahá'i faith. They call it the "Haykal", the temple.
The Freemasonry use the pentagram as a symbol called "Blazing Star".
Turned around with two points up the pentagram symbolizes the devil. Satanists use the pentagram with two points up as their symbol. They use the inverted pentagram with two circles around it and a the head of a goat inside it.
It symbolizes, for Christians, the five wounds of Christ. Many Christians also see the pentagram as a symbol of Christ, as "Alpha and Omega". It symbolizes the star of Bethlehem. This is a symbol of guidance. It is important that the star has
one point upwards.
Befana the Witch arrives on the 5th of January
In Italy Befana comes on the evening of the 5th of January, Epiphany Eve. She travels on a broomstick and delivers sweets or other gifts to all children who have behaved. Children who have misbehaved will receive a black candy that represents a lump of coal. In Italy she is known as Befana la Strega (Befana the Witch) or Befana la Vecchia (Befana the Crone).
One legend tells a story involving the Wise Men and an old woman. On their quest to find the baby Jesus following the star, they asked an elderly woman for directions. She could not give them any clarification on how to find the new born, but did invite them to spend the night in her home.
The following morning the three Wise Men invited the woman to join them. She declined. Later the old woman regretted her decision. She set out to find the baby Jesus bringing along a sack filled with gifts. The old woman also took her broomstick as housekeeping was very important in her opinion. To this day she is still rummaging around, but does stop to give gifts to children. Befana certainly is a kindhearted witch!