A Bit of Luck in Your Pocket

Belief in magic takes many forms, and perhaps the one we’re most familiar with is faith in superstitions. There are several such folk traditions happiness. Here is a selection of beliefs associated with several of them:

Acorns: A symbol of fertility and the promise of the future, acorns are often worn or carried by people to bring them good luck.

Calico Cats: The calico cat is a symbol of good luck in Western and Eastern cultures, most famously seen in Japanese symbology as the Maneki Neko or the waving “money cat.” Calicos are a type of tortoiseshell cat, and the tortoise itself is considered to be a lucky animal.

Chimney Sweeps: It’s thought lucky to meet a chimney sweep on New Year’s Day, particularly so if he hands you his card. There might be some real truth in this for families who still rely on wood-burning stoves for heat.

Four-Leafed Clovers: The four-leafed variety of clover is so rare that to find one, especially if by accident, is a sign that good luck is coming your way. Desirable attributes—such as love, hope, faith, and luck—are sometimes associated with the four leaves.

Horseshoes: Made of iron, which is supposedly a bane against malicious fairies, the horseshoe is a longstanding symbol of prosperity against the powers of darkness. If you find a horseshoe while out walking you will have good luck—the number of nails left in the horseshoe are a count of how many years the luck will last.

Ladybugs: The Turkish word for this red-and-black garden friend translates as “luck bug,” and in Turkey, Italy, Russia, and other countries people often make a wish when they spot (excuse me!) a ladybug.

Mushrooms: The famous white-speckled red mushroom, the Amanita muscaria is often found in the company of other good luck symbols on New Year’s greeting cards. Not so much a bringer of good luck as a preserver of it, the mushroom is beloved by the fairies and a person who destroys it (especially if it is in a fairy ring) will surely bring on their revenge.

Pigs: The white pig is a symbol of good fortune often pictured on postcards alongside clover. (And clover itself is surely considered lucky by pigs!) Of course, having a pig ensures a family will have enough to eat. There is even a German saying, “ich habe Schwein gehabt,” translated as “I have had a pig” and means they feel lucky.

Rabbit’s Foot: Some gamblers swear by their lucky rabbit’s foot, which is often made into a keychain. Interestingly (and ghoulishly) enough, the rabbit’s foot may be a hand-me-down from voodoo traditions involving the carrying around of preserved human remains. I’ve got to say I see this lucky charm as a questionable one, not least of all for the rabbit.

Spiders: Weavers and bankers alike believe spiders to be good luck. Many people avoid killing spiders found inside, lest the homeowners lose their money. A variation on this belief is that a spider killed in a new house means the house will never truly be clean.

There are so many more. Have you found any of these charms to be good at bringing you luck? Which others have you tried?