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]
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]
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.
| Symbol | Culture | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Western, Japanese | ||
| 8 | Chinese, Japanese | Sounds 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. | |
| Aitvaras | Lithuania | [3] | |
| Acorns | Norse | [4] | |
| Albatross | Considered a sign of good luck if seen by sailors. | ||
| Amanita muscaria | |||
| Ashtamangala | Indian religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism | Buddhism: Endless knot, Lotus flower, Dhvaja, Dharmachakra, Bumpa, Golden Fish, Parasol, Conch; additional symbols for Hinduism and Jainism | |
| Bamboo | Chinese | ||
| Barnstar | United States | [5] [6] | |
| Chimney sweep | Many parts of the world | Said to bring good luck when being touched, especially on New Year and on weddings. | |
| Corno portafortuna | Central and Southern Italy | ||
| Ladybird beetles | German, Italian, Poles, Russian, Turkish, Brazilian, Serbia | There 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. | |
| Dreamcatcher | Native 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] | |
| Fish | Chinese, Hebrew, Ancient Egyptian, Tunisian, Indian, Japanese | ||
| Bird or flock going from right to left | Paganism | ||
| A monk passing through | Buddhist | ||
| Four-leaf clover | Irish and Celtic, German, Poles | ||
| Shamrock or Clover | Irish | While in most of the world, only the four-leafed clover is considered lucky, in Ireland all Irish Shamrocks are. | |
| Horseshoe | English, Poles and several other European ethnicities | Horseshoes are considered lucky when turned upwards but unlucky when turned downwards, although some people believe the opposite. | |
| Jade | Chinese | ||
| Jew with a coin | Poland | Thought to bring money.[9] [10] [11] | |
| The lù or 子 zi | Chinese | A symbol thought to bring prosperity. | |
| Maneki-neko | Japanese, Chinese | Often mistaken as a Chinese symbol due to its usage in Chinese communities, the Maneki-neko is Japanese. | |
| Pig | Chinese, German | ||
| Pythons' eyes | Meitei culture | Believed 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 foot | North America, England and Wales (originating from a hare's foot) | A rabbit's foot can be worn or carried as a lucky charm. | |
| White rat | Roman Empire | The Romans sometimes saw rats as omens. A white rat was considered to be auspicious, while a black rat has unfortunate significance. | |
| Wishbone | Europe, North America | [14] | |
| Sarimanok | Maranao | ||
| Swallow | Korea | Rooted in Folktale 'Heungbu and Nolbu' | |
| Swastika | Multiple cultures | The 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 cat | Many cultures | Rooted in Folklore | |
| White Elephant | Thai | [15] | |
| White heather | Irish Travellers, Scotland | [16] | |