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Read the press release here.

Times Square Begins 'Lucky' Countdown to 2013

By Tuan Nguyen | December 19, 2012 2:15pm

TIMES SQUARE — To the Times Square Alliance, No. 13 is the luckiest number.

"Some people, they get nervous about number 13," said Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance, who stood beside the pair of 7-foot numerals that will light up the crossroads of the world on New Year's Eve.

"They feel that it has a bad rap, or maybe it's not a lucky year coming up. We think 2013 will be an amazing year."

Tompkins unveiled the numbers at the Times Square Museum & Visitor Center as part of the countdown to 2013, which started Wednesday, 13 days before the famous ball was due to drop.

But just a precaution to ward off any bad luck, the alliance rolled out a set of figurines of multi-cultural good luck charms including a lucky rabbit's foot, 13 dreamcatchers, and a horseshoe, among other items.

The numbers will remain on display at the center by 47th St. and 7th Ave. until Dec. 26, when they will be installed atop One Times Square to complete the "2-0-1-3" sign that lights up at midnight of the New Year's Eve Ball Drop.