For centuries, people have been looking for different symbols and hidden meanings in everyday objects. Superstitions about the countless number of symbols that are supposed to bring good luck have survived to our times. Let me present to you a few of the most common lucky symbols around the world.
1. Four-clover leaf
The four-leaf clover is a symbol with roots in Ireland. Celtic druids regarded the clover as an amulet that helped them see the approaching evil spirits. Clover gave them magical protection and each leaf signified faith, hope, love and happiness. In the Middle Ages children carried a four-leaf clover with them hoping to attract fairies.
2. Horseshoe
When blacksmithing began to develop such everyday items as horseshoes appeared. Blacksmiths worked with fire, they tamed it, so they were associated with dealings with the devil. There is a legend about how the blacksmith shoeed the devil. However, the horseshoe caused the devil a lot of pain and he begged the blacksmith to take it off. Man agreed to this on condition that the devil promised never to enter the house with a horseshoe.
Horseshoes were hung over the door to bring good luck and protection to anyone who passed under it. Nevertheless, the direction in which it should be hanged remains a matter of dispute.
3. Elephants
Over the years elephants have been present in many cultures and religions and they have been given various meanings. However, people always associated them with their strength and wisdom. Some believe that having an elephant statue looking towards your doorway will ensure that only positive vibrations will go inside. It will bring you longevity and success, as long as the elephant's trunk points upwards.
4. Maneki-neko - “Welcoming cat”
The Maneki-neko tradition comes from China and Japan. There are many legends about the origins of this symbol. One of them tells about a poor monk living with a cat in the temple. During the storm, the wealthy lord samurai took refuge under a tree, he would have died if not for the cat waving his paw and inviting him to the temple.
The meaning of Maneki-neko varies depending on which paw the cat has raised and what color it is. Therefore, make sure you have a white statue of a cat that is raising its right paw, if you want to attract good luck to your home.
5. Dreamcatcher
Native Americans made dreamcatchers by hand. It is originally a small hoop made of twigs with threads resembling a spider's web. They are decorated with beads and feathers which also gives the dreamcatcher a special meaning.
It is generally related to Native American beliefs about the mystical and maternal protector of the tribe. As her tribe grew and spread more and more lands, she was unable to protect them all. Therefore, she braided the first dreamcatcher to convey her care.
The above examples are just a small glimpse of the diversity of people's beliefs about attracting happiness. If you want to learn more I encourage you to take part in the discussion and read the sources.
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUOIlf0X4ag&ab_channel=WatchMojo.com
https://www.bhg.com/holidays/st-patricks-day/traditions/fun-facts-about-four-leaf-clovers/
https://legomenon.com/dreamcatcher-meaning-legend-history-origins.html
1. Do you believe in symbols as these?
2. Did you ever experience that something brings you luck?
3. What kind of symbols of good luck do you have in your country?
Comments
No, I don’t. However, I think they are a nice way too boost one’s confidence or improve mood thus I think these are a nice, positive and harmless symbols. Probably that’s why, every time my aunt decides it’s time to look for a four-leaf clover I help her. It’s a nice way to spend a bit of time together, on the fresh air and chat about our lives.
Did you ever experience that something brings you luck?
No, I don’t think I can recall anything like that. However (though I probably should not say it because you know … it can disappear, end or something) I do consider myself as a quite lucky person. Even when something stupid or horrible happens I tend to find myself a way out of it. It also applies to positive events in my life. It’s like something helps my find my own way to do things as soon as I think about something.
What kind of symbols of good luck do you have in your country?
I think apart from the ones you’ve already mentioned like four-leaf clovers, elephants (with their trunks up!) and horseshoes we also have a goldfishes and storks. Oh, and of course finding a coin or a bill on the floor will bring you fortune and make one of your wishes happen. Actually, the same rule goes to the bird pooping on you. Poland is a weird country :D
2. Personally in life I try not to rely on luck. I mean, luck is kind of inconsistent to say at least😅 So usually I'm not paying attention if everything might have brought me luck and I would rather rely on my personal abilities to achieve different things. But with that being said I've still bought a few lottery tickets in my life with the hope of winning grand prizes. Didn't succeed much, thought😅
3. To be honest I think it's the most common once that you have already mentioned in the article, like four-leaf clovers and horseshoes. Also, I remember in childhood my friend used to say that eating a five-leaf lilac flower will make your wish come true. So in spring when they were blooming a few hours of our walks have always been spent looking for the five-leafed once😅
2. Absolutely not. I have never encountered a situation where ANYTHING brings me happiness. You just have to hit the right place at the right time. that's all.
3. I believe that in my country a popular symbol of happiness is the four-leaf clover. Nothing else comes to mind.
I am not sure here, after all I am human so if I want to accomplish something or I want to grab something no matter what than myself force me to believe in such things. For ex; many superstitious beliefs and practices are connected with sneezing or Black cats crossing your path, in these situation I pretend it as a coincidence but when something went wrong that day or that moment than it turns to incidence for me.
what comes to my mind now is, Horseshoes; are thought to bring good fortune and luck when you hang them on the wall of your home or above your doorway, and Four Leaf Clovers; It is the most popularly known symbol of luck in the West. Since the three-leaf clover variety is common, finding four leaf clovers is considered lucky, else is 7 chili peppers and 1 lemon strung together. To ward off the evil eye and other ghastly things that interfere with business. You will find them on lots of commercial vehicles and other enterprises.
2. Many times I had the impression that I was able to do something thanks to some good omen from the past. However, very quickly using the calculus of probabilities, I came to the conclusion that it was not that impossible at all. Statistics and determinism is the scientific answer to being lucky. If it is comforting you to carry a four-leaf clover in your wallet, that's fine. I just choose to carry statistics in my mind. That is bringing me luck.
3. I don't pay any particular attention to general symbols that bring luck in my surroundings, but I know that such a symbol can be very personal. My grandmother collected ceramic figurines of baby turtles. She had a strong belief that such a turtle figurine brings good luck. There were tons of them in every room. A few were also in my grandfather's car and on the desk in his office. I asked several times where her superstition came from, and each time I got a different answer.
Well, I don't believe in them. It's all in our minds. If you think that it'll bring you luck then you'll justify every lucky moment in your life by this charm.
2. Did you ever experience that something brings you luck?
It's stupid but I have one item that I believe is bringing me luck. It's a bracelet that was given to me by my grandma before my 'matura' exams and now I always wear it when I'm having an exam. It usually works :D
3. What kind of symbols of good luck do you have in your country?
I don't know if it's polish symbol of a good luck but I didn't heard of it anywhere else. It's pretty common for people to have a painting of a Jew just after the entrance to a home. The belief is that he is (The Jew) supposed to prevent money from going outside the house.
I am a living example of a person breaking the rules of bad and good luck, to be honest. I was born on 13th of May, so you know, 13 is somehow my lucky number. I’ve never experienced any bad luck or bad things happening to me on Friday 13’s, I had a black cat that was crossing my paths a lot 😉 and I’ve never really cared if I broke a mirror or something. It’s even more funny because my father is very, very superstitious; he never goes back home if he forgot something, and if he does that, he always sit in a chair for a second (it’s supposed to be a very old Polish superstition, that if you come back home because you forgot to take something, you need to sit down for a while or bad things will happen to you). He believes that killing spiders brings bad luck – and that’s probably why I was taught to catch them and throw outside the house, not kill them instantly. Our house has a horseshoe hung above the entrance, etc. But personally, I’m taking all that with a bit of salt.
I think a horseshoe is an ultimate symbol of good luck in Poland, and maybe the four-leaf clover. I also think that shooting stars are widely believed to be good omens in our country, but it’s also very well known superstition around the world. I also remember my father telling me that long time ago (about a century or two ago) people in small villages in Poland believed that having a nest of barn owls in your house (in the attic) was a sign of good fortune.
I am not a superstitious person. There are some things in my culture which make me “believe” some symbols even if I am not aware of that. I don’t really believe in those, but when there is a ladder and I can simply avoid going under it I will do it. I think that this is more of a habit then actual superstition.
2. Did you ever experience that something brings you luck?
Not really. I might have thought so at the moment but now I know luck had nothing to do with it. I don’t believe in lucky charms like horse shoes or breathing on pennies but I do like caring things which are important to me and those things might work as my lucky charms. Picture of my girlfriend in my wallet, a necklace that I got from my grandparents, a sentence that my fathers always had with him. Those are the things that have a meaning or even “power” in my opinion.
3. What kind of symbols of good luck do you have in your country?
In Poland there is this custom that on the Christmas Eve a first person who visits the house has to be male. This some kind of a symbol of luck and well being. There are many symbols in Poland which related to animals. A stork sitting on a chimney brings luck but a stork which leaves it’s nest to soon predicts a fire.
1. I don’t believe in any symbols without contest. I like to wear or take with me everywhere things that someone important and close gave to me. Just a statue, a toy or a figure don’t have any meaning behind them for me.
2. I used to believe in such things when I used to play tennis as a child. There are lots of “ways” to bring luck in a professional sport. Truly, sometimes that made me extremely nervous as sometimes I found myself thinking about absolute nonsense.
3. Pretty the same that have been already mentioned. Nevertheless, I believe there a wide range of bad luck symbols.
No, not really. What I mean by that is I don't think they have a magical/oculltistic properties. They can, however, have a placebo effect or just be calming token, on which you can focus your mind during stressful moments. I myself, for example, carry a "lucky" golden coin for good luck during exams. I don't believe it influences the results in any way other than making me calmer while writing them.
2. Did you ever experience that something brings you luck?
Not really. Sometimes, every one of us has a good streak or run of a luck, if you'd like. All of those are just statistical fluctuations or perhaps just a result of amount of work you've put into something. You can certainly influence the outcome of many things and your future in general, but I don't think a dried-out four leaved shamrock can.
3. What kind of symbols of good luck do you have in your country?
Good question. Honestly, I'm not certain. I think that many people in Poland also believe in shamrocks or horseshoes. I also believe that some people, especially older, use to say that you should borrow something blue for good luck? I'm not familiar with anything else.
Rather not, I've never thought more about this topic so it's hard to give me a more accurate answer.
2. Did you ever experience that something brings you luck?
I am a person of faith and often carry a cross with Jesus on it. If I had to choose something that brings me happiness, I would choose this cross
3. What kind of symbols of good luck do you have in your country?
I honestly have no idea. I've never given this topic much thought. I asked my mother and she said that she associates a four-leaf clover with happiness
I totally agree with you, if it doesn't hurt anyone to believe in such symbols, it's okay. It's very nice of you to spend time with your aunt looking for a four-leaf clover.
Good for you! May you always attract happiness. May it be more thanks to the found coin than the strange Polish superstitions ;)
@Palina H
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. It's great that you have something tiny in your life that makes everyday feel better. If you are going to buy lottery tickets, make sure you have your bracelet with you.
Eating lilac flowers? Thanks, but I'd rather not try :)
@Igor Goryszewski
What exactly is being in the right place at the right time? This is probably nothing more than a happy coincidence. Maybe such tiny symbols somehow influence it?
@Saloni Nayi
I must admit you’re right - sometimes things get "lucky meaning" when we give them such. Therefore, it’s completely harmless and unusual. It's important that everyone feels happy, no matter what the reasons are. 7 chili peppers and 1 lemon strung together - that's something new for me. After checking what this combination looks like, I have to say that it’s quite interesting.
No, I don’t. But I think it works like a placebo effect for many people.
2.Did you ever experience that something brings you luck?
I do not remember any such thing. I remember a few situations where I was clearly lucky, but it was not the result of some object of mythical power.
3.What kind of symbols of good luck do you have in your country?
It seems to me that the most popular symbol of happiness in Poland is the horse's horseshoe. I would put a four-leaf clover in second place, but it is not a symbol from my country.
2. Maybe I believed in it when I was a child. But now I'm that one unlucky person. Success can be achieved by the hard work you've put into it.
3. I think the most popular is the four-clover leaf and the horseshoe. But it must be placed in the right direction - that is with the open part up so that the luck doesn't fall out.
Definitely nope, i don't get it, how these superstitions might help anybody. I prefer to rely on myself and don't pay attention to superstitions. If somebody trusts to things like these,i don't care, it is not my bussines.
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2. Did you ever experience that something brings you luck?
Hard work brings me luck, nothing else. If there is any situation when i'm lucky, i think it is pure luck or coincidence. I make my own luck.
3. What kind of symbols of good luck do you have in your country?
I think the most popular ones are four-leaf clover, horseshoe and carp's scale. Nothing more comes to my mind.
I guess everything that should happen with us will happen, and any kind of thing couldn’t bring luck for us.
In my native country very popular was a horseshoe, nowadays I don’t see a lot of this thin in friend’s houses.
While preparing to write this article, I broadened my knowledge about some cultures and religions. Hope you will take a look at the sources if you are interested in that too.
I greatly respect the choice of mathematics over giving magical meanings to things or situations. In my opinion, people need a little magic in their daily lives or they want to explain something to themselves.
@Piotr Jarzyński
I completely agree with you - many of these symbols are simply created in the human head. For example, some people may find reasons for their happiness in elephant statues or, like your grandmother, turtle figurines.
I’m not a stranger to what you wrote about the painting of a Jew. I guess he should always have a coin in his hand, am I right?
@Katarzyna Stefanowska
You have very interesting memories of the elephant figurines. You must have enjoyed it when something happy happened to your roommate and the only explanation you could find was these lucky figures.
Hope you weren't born on Friday! Then your dad's superstition could take its toll. It's a good thing you don't pay too much attention to it. And thanks to your dad, you could learn interesting facts like this about the nest of the barn owls. Thanks for sharing it :)
@Piotr Malanowski
Many of these superstitions have been culturally implemented in us, haven't they? Therefore, the items that are important only to us should be the most significant. Like a photo of a dear person you mentioned or a personal memento.
We can find many lucky charms in Poland. Telling foreigners about it only makes us realize how absurd some of them are. A stork sitting on a chimney is a really nice example.
Interestingly, I always found such lucky charms to have a calming effect on a person. Did I understand correctly that it was quite the opposite for you?
Of course, people have also invented an enormous amount of symbols to explain why they are unlucky or just because something bad happened to them. However, I preferred to keep this article in a positive tone, especially considering the end of the semester.
@Robert Gawryś-Poniewierka
I was waiting for someone to write about the placebo effect! In my opinion, this is what plays the biggest role here. Everyone should believe in what they want, especially if having a lucky coin with you can calm you down and help you write the exam.
Heard of the superstition of having to borrow something blue. Doesn't that mainly apply to brides?
@Mateusz Ćwikliński
The cross is a very good example in the context of this article. I don't think it would be appropriate to call it a "lucky charm", but it’s a symbol to protect us. Although the elephant figure may seem funny to us, in many religions the elephant plays a very important role. Especially in Asia. This is a very complex topic, so I encourage you to browse through the sources.
@Jakub Dzień
I don’t find it necessary to attribute our lucky cases to any particular symbols. Maybe it just turned out like that or we've earned it? I guess that's what happened with you.
Nowadays, the exchange of intercultural information is very fast. This is probably why there are similar lucky charms around the world and the knowledge about them is common.
It’s very good to rely more on yourself and your work than on lucky charms. It seems to me that sometimes people need to find something special in their lives. Therefore, they attach great importance to symbols and those that bring luck help them find hope in more difficult times.
@Tkach Dmytro
Whether the dream catcher has any magical properties or it was just a placebo effect - it's great that a gift from that person helped you. You have to keep it close to your bed, right? I got once too, but I didn't notice the difference.
So you believe in destiny and nothing we do can stop it? Maybe that's why some people are looking for symbols to help them deceive their destiny.