List of lucky symbols explained

A good luck charm is an amulet or other item that is believed to bring good luck. Almost any object can be used as a charm. Coins, horseshoes and buttons are examples, as are small objects given as gifts, due to the favorable associations they make. Many souvenir shops have a range of tiny items that may be used as good luck charms. Good luck charms are often worn on the body, but not necessarily.[1]

History

The mojo is a charm originating in African culture. It is used in voodoo ceremonies to carry several lucky objects or spells and intended to cause a specific effect. The concept is that particular objects placed in the bag and charged will create a supernatural effect for the bearer. Even today, mojo bags are still used. Europe also contributed to the concept of lucky charms. Adherents of St. Patrick (the patron saint of Ireland) adopted the four-leaf clover as a symbol of Irish luck because clovers are abundant in the hills of Ireland.[2]

List

Luck is symbolized by a wide array of objects, numbers, symbols, plant and animal life which vary significantly in different cultures globally. The significance of each symbol is rooted in either folklore, mythology, esotericism, religion, tradition, necessity, or a combination thereof.

SymbolCultureNotes
7Western, Japanese
8Chinese, JapaneseSounds like the Chinese word for "fortune". See Numbers in Chinese culture#EightUsed to mean the sacred and infinite in Japanese. A prime example is using the number 8 to refer to (lit. Eight Million Gods). See 8#As a lucky number.
AitvarasLithuania[3]
AcornsNorse[4]
AlbatrossConsidered a sign of good luck if seen by sailors.
Amanita muscaria
AshtamangalaIndian religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, and BuddhismBuddhism: Endless knot, Lotus flower, Dhvaja, Dharmachakra, Bumpa, Golden Fish, Parasol, Conch; additional symbols for Hinduism and Jainism
BambooChinese
BarnstarUnited States[5] [6]
Chimney sweepMany parts of the worldSaid to bring good luck when being touched, especially on New Year and on weddings.
Corno portafortunaCentral and Southern Italy
Ladybird beetlesGerman, Italian, Poles, Russian, Turkish, Brazilian, SerbiaThere is an old children's song in Serbia "Let, let, bubamaro, donesi mi sreću" meaning "Fly, fly, ladybug, bring me the happiness". In Serbian, "sreća" means "good chances" as in a lottery or "happiness", but this is about emotions.
DreamcatcherNative American (Ojibwe)In Native American Ojibwa culture the human mind was believed to be susceptible to dark spirits, when the mind is weakest (I.e. asleep) and would give bad dreams. In defense the men and women would weave dream catchers. These talismans would let the good dream spirits through, whilst trapping the bad spirits in the pattern.[7] [8]
FishChinese, Hebrew, Ancient Egyptian, Tunisian, Indian, Japanese
Bird or flock going from right to leftPaganism
A monk passing throughBuddhist
Four-leaf cloverIrish and Celtic, German, Poles
Shamrock or CloverIrishWhile in most of the world, only the four-leafed clover is considered lucky, in Ireland all Irish Shamrocks are.
HorseshoeEnglish, Poles and several other European ethnicitiesHorseshoes are considered lucky when turned upwards but unlucky when turned downwards, although some people believe the opposite.
JadeChinese
Jew with a coinPolandThought to bring money.[9] [10] [11]
The lù or 子 zi ChineseA symbol thought to bring prosperity.
Maneki-nekoJapanese, ChineseOften mistaken as a Chinese symbol due to its usage in Chinese communities, the Maneki-neko is Japanese.
PigChinese, German
Pythons' eyesMeitei cultureBelieved that pythons' eyes bring positive attention, good fortune, guard against mni|awa ana|bad happenings and the unhindered travelling to desired places.[12] [13]
Rabbit's footNorth America, England and Wales (originating from a hare's foot)A rabbit's foot can be worn or carried as a lucky charm.
White ratRoman EmpireThe Romans sometimes saw rats as omens. A white rat was considered to be auspicious, while a black rat has unfortunate significance.
WishboneEurope, North America[14]
SarimanokMaranao
SwallowKoreaRooted in Folktale 'Heungbu and Nolbu'
SwastikaMultiple culturesThe swastika or crux gammata (in heraldry fylfot), historically used as a symbol in Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism, and widely popular in the early 20th century as a symbol of good luck or prosperity before adopted as a symbol of Nazism in the 1920s and 30s.
Tortoiseshell catMany culturesRooted in Folklore
White ElephantThai[15]
White heatherIrish Travellers, Scotland[16]

See also

Sources

Notes and References

  1. News: The Difference Between A Talisman Amulet and A Charm. 2012-08-14. https://archive.today/20121206040917/http://www.amuletandtalisman.com/2012/08/the-difference-between-amulet-talisman.html. 2012-12-06. dead.
  2. News: History and Legends of Lucky Charms and Talismans. 2021-08-19. 2012-04-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20120405210303/http://www.essortment.com/history-legends-lucky-charms-talismans-21145.html. dead.
  3. [Algirdas Julius Greimas]
  4. News: Pieces of the Past: Acorny tale. Waxon. Dawn. The Repository. September 18, 2008. March 9, 2023.
  5. News: For the Pennsylvania Dutch, a Long Tradition Fades. Urbina. Eric. The New York Times. July 22, 2006. April 26, 2011. June 18, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120618060518/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/22/us/22hex.html. live.
  6. News: It's in the Stars . Votruba . Cindy . . September 8, 2008 . April 26, 2011 . September 30, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110930112436/http://www.marshallindependent.com/page/content.detail/id/504247.html?nav=5015 . live .
  7. News: New Age Solution for Coping with Material-world Tension. Young, Eric. The Sacramento Bee. February 2, 1998. .
  8. News: Objects in the mirror may be more complex than they appear. Thrall, Christopher. Postmedia News. September 17, 2005. .
  9. Web site: Tartakowsky, Ewa. "Le Juif à la pièce d'argent." La vie des idées (2017). . 2019-05-24 . 2017-03-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170301161357/http://www.laviedesidees.fr/IMG/pdf/20170110_tartakowskyjuifargent.pdf . live .
  10. http://www.aapjstudies.org/manager/external/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Jew_with_a_coin_FINAL.2.pdf The Jew with a Coin: Analysis of a contemporary folkloric emblem (AAPJ)
  11. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=12052699 Driving to Treblinka: A Long Search for a Lost Father
  12. Book: Wouters, Jelle J. P. . Vernacular Politics in Northeast India: Democracy, Ethnicity, and Indigeneity . 2022-05-16 . . 978-0-19-267826-3 . 205 . en.
  13. Book: Wouters, Jelle J. P. . Vernacular Politics in Northeast India: Democracy, Ethnicity, and Indigeneity . 2022-05-16 . . 978-0-19-267826-3 . 219 . en.
  14. Edward A. Armstrong."The Folklore of Birds" (Dover Publications, 1970)
  15. News: 'Lucky' white elephant for Burma . BBC News . November 9, 2001 . September 8, 2013 . April 3, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150403053058/http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/animals/newsid_1648000/1648273.stm . live .
  16. Book: McClintock . David . Why Is White Heather Lucky? . 15 January 1970 . Country Life . en . 3 April 2021 . 4 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210704222130/https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Country_Life/ExkgAQAAMAAJ . live .