How do different cultures think about luck?

The answer

Concepts of luck vary profoundly across cultures. In Chinese culture, the number 8 is extremely auspicious because it sounds like the word for prosperity, which is why the Beijing Olympics began at 8:08 PM on 8/8/08. Japanese culture considers the number 7 lucky but 4 unlucky (shi also means death). In Indian culture, elephants symbolize good fortune, and Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, is invoked before new ventures. Irish four-leaf clovers, Italian cornicello horns, Turkish nazar (evil eye) beads, and Japanese maneki-neko (beckoning cats) all serve as luck talismans. Psychologist Richard Wiseman's research found that people who consider themselves lucky actually tend to be more open to opportunity and more resilient after setbacks, suggesting that belief in luck can become self-fulfilling.