Number 18

Number 18 – Meaning and Fun Facts

In China the number 18 is considered a very auspicious number. It is associated with someone who is going to have great success and prosper!

The reason is that when 18 is alternatively pronounced 幺八 (yāo bā), it strongly resembles the words “going to prosper”.

Living in house number 18 or apartment 18 is considered fortunate. Certainly running a business from number 18 should be an indicator of success.

Number 18 – Symbol of Life

In the Hebrew system of the numerical value of words, the Hebrew word for life (chai) has the value of 18.

This makes 18 a favorable number as it indicates hopes of a long life.

It is among many Hebrews traditional to give gifts 18 in number or with a number that can be divided by 18. Many wear the chai as a charm for good luck.

The Hebrew prayer called “Shemoneh Esrei” means eighteen and listed originally eighteen blessings.

Number 18 in the Tarot Deck

This number is often associated with the moon, the moon being a symbol of mystery and intuition.

The tarot card 18 shows the moon dripping tears.

The symbols of the card indicate that the material is trying to destroy the spiritual.

Number 18 – Fun Facts

The number is a product of 2×9 indicated that all the good qualities of number 9 are doubled in strength.

This is the age of majority is very many countries.

The eighteenth year anniversary of marriage is the tin wedding.

Argon has the atomic number 18.

There are 18 chapters in the Bhagavad Gita.

Number 18 is a Lucas number.

The Scottish Gaelic Alphabet

There are 18 letters in the Scottish Gaelic alphabet: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, T, and U. Many places in Scotland have bilingual signs.

Louisiana

Louisiana became the 18^th state of the United States in 1812. The United States government bought the Louisiana Territory from France for fifteen million dollars.

The 18th President

Ulysses S. Grant (April 22, 1822 – July 23, 1885) became the 18^th President of the United States. He served from 1869-1877. He was in command of all Union armies and led the North to victory in the Civil War.

There were a lot of scandals during his presidency. Grant tried out many different businesses during his lifetime, failing in most of them.

Being deeply in debt he consulted with his dear friend Mark Twain and started writing a book about his life.

Grant died four days after the book was published. The book did although make his family rich.

Our Lady of Lourdes

The Virgin Mary (Our Lady of Lourdes) showed herself to Bernadette Soubirous a total of 18 times in 1858.

She was only 14 years that year.

Millions of pilgrims visit Lourdes in France annually.

Lourdes is a small town in the South of France.

Many reports have been made of miraculous healings.

Saint Bernadette is considered a Christian mystic and was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1993.

In France they celebrate her feast day on the 18th of February.

Number 18 in the Bible

The people of Israel were forced to serve the King of Moab (Eglon) for eighteen years. Judges 3:14

The people of Israel were oppressed for eighteen years by the Ammonites. Judges 10:8

King Rehoboam had eighteen wives. (He also had sixty concubines, twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters!) Rehoboam was the son of King Salomon and grandson of King David. 2 Chronicles 11:21

Eighteen people were killed when the tower in Silo’am fell over them. Luke 13:4

Jesus healed a woman on the Sabbath who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten herself. Jesus laid his hands on her and she was made straight. When he was criticized for healing on the Sabbath Jesus answered:

“And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?”  Luke 13:16

On the 18th Day

Kelly Grace 1954

The American actress, Grace Kelly (1929-1982) was officially married to Prince Rainier III of Monaco in a civil ceremony that took place in the Palace Throne Room of Monaco on April 18, 1956.

Grace Kelly became Princess Grace. There was a church wedding the following day.

William Tell

The story of William Tell is well known. According the legend William Tell refused to bow in front of the pole with the hat. This particular hat belonged to Hermann Gessler, the newly appointed governor in Altdorf (Switzerland).

William Tell was arrested and he was given two choices; the death penalty or shot an apple placed on the head of his son. He chose the ladder.

On November 18, 1307 William Tell took out a bolt from his crossbow and with a single shot split the apple in two. His son was not harmed.

Calvin and Hobbes

The immensely popular comic stripe Calvin and Hobbes appeared for the first time on November 18, 1985. There are a total of 18 Calvin and Hobbes books. What a great collection to have!

Lima

Lima, the capital of Peru was founded January 18, 1535 by Francisco Pizarro. He was a Spanish conquistador.

Fire in London

The dreadful fire which started at Pancras tube station, King’s Cross St (in London) on November 18, 1987, killed 31 people.

San Francisco Earthquake

A disastrous earthquake struck San Francisco on Wednesday April 18, 1906.  About 80% of the beautiful city lay in ruins and even worse over 3000 people died. The quake had a magnitude of 7.8 MW.

The British are coming

Paul Revere and William Dawes are well known for their warning message. They rode from Charleston to Lexington on April 18, 1775. They successfully delivered the warning message to the colonists that “the British are coming”. It was quite a dramatic event.

Sonnet 18 By William Shakespeare