Liczba trzy w kulturze i języku

Abstract

Already in the oldest cultures, numbers were used not only for counting, but humans used them to tame and organise the world and attributed to them magical, mystical and causative powers. It is difficult to characterise all cultural and linguistic areas in which the number three plays a very important role and performs many functions. Out of necessity, this article will limit itself to selected ones: various contemporary and past religions; folk culture; sports; children’s rhymes and counting books; phraseological idioms, proverbs and maxims. Triads occur extremely often in the physical and mental world of many societies, because the number three is considered lucky, perfect, often even sacred, basic in many areas of life (among others in folklore, in fairy tales, in literature, in games and plays, spells, aphorisms, wishes).