Happy Twosday!
Welcome to February 22, the day the world hits an unprecedented milestone.
Not only does “Twosday” fall on a Tuesday, but consider the date itself, 22/2/22 – a number that’s impossible to miss.
The date 22/2/22, though striking, carries no meaning beyond its function in our particular calendar. This is true for numbers in general: Their meanings are limited to measuring, labeling or counting things.
“Twosday” is a simple example of a popular form of arithmetical shenanigans: numerology, the pseudoscientific practice of attaching supernatural significance to numbers.
Numerology can be traced back 2,500 years to the Greek mathematician Pythagoras, with alternative systems appearing elsewhere, including China and the Middle East.
There are many kinds of numerology. The most popular form assigns numbers to names or other words, and then calculates their “root,” also known as the “destiny number” or “expression number”. It starts by assigning a number to each letter of the alphabet: A = 1, B = 2, up to I = 9, then the cycle repeats with J = 1, K = 2, etc.
So while “Twosday” carries absolutely no historical significance or any cosmic message, it does speak volumes about our brains and cultures.