An Introduction to Good Luck Charms

There’s more to lucky charms than a box of cereal and a spritely leprechaun. Of course, the first and most lucky charm many of us think of when we think of things that bring us luck is a four-leaf clover. Luckily (pun intended), there are many other lucky charms out there. In fact, different countries have various charms of luck they look to.

If you’re in need of a little extra luck on your side, here are a few great options. Let’s look at where these good luck charms come from and what makes them lucky!

Acorn

Oak trees are an important part of nature in England, as not only is the song “Heart of Oak” the march of England’s Royal Navy, but acorns have been carried as good luck charms for centuries, including soldiers carrying them into battle. These days you can find little acorn charms at gift shops with a note of their good luck powers.

If you want to bring luck to your marriage, consider marrying under an oak tree as they often do in the UK. Perhaps the idea of this sturdy tree being so lucky is its ability to withstand many storms because of its strong branches and deep roots.

Hamsa

While you may not know it by its name, you’ve seen these hands before – sometimes they have an eye in the palm, but not always. The Hamsa is also commonly known as the Hand of Fatima. The hand is seen in Jewish, Egyptian, and other cultures.

It’s not only a good luck charm, but it is used for protection, and that eye that is seen on many of the hand’s designs is the Nazar, which is often referred to as an evil eye amulet because that’s what it protects the wearer or user from.

Horseshoes

If you’ve ever seen a horseshoe hanging above someone’s door, they’re trying to bring some good luck into their home. A little research on the history of this good luck charm turns up lots of maybes, but no definitives – it may have started because the horseshoe resembles a crescent moon or it could be that they were originally made of iron, a mystical metal.

You have two lucky options for hanging your horseshoe, but you definitely want it to be over your door (or one over each door, if you prefer). If it is arms up, it is busy collecting good luck. If you flip it over, all that luck spills over the entry to keep the bad things out.

Maneki Neko

If you’ve ever gone out to eat for Chinese cuisine, you’ve likely seen the waving cat, or beckoning cat, as his name translates. Maneki Neko is more than just a trinket you’ll find in Asian stores in the U.S. and beyond – he is actually a symbol of good fortune in Japanese culture.

While his moving paw looks as those it’s waving at you, the symbolism is meant to draw you in. In the case of a moving left paw, the cat is beckoning more customers. The right paw calls in more money.

Numbers

While one may first think of 13 when it comes to numbers and luck, there are plenty of numbers that bring good luck rather than symbolizing bad luck. From the lucky number seven to the auspicious number eight, the meanings of numbers can work wonders in your life.

To understand more about numbers and the luck they bring, you’ll want to take a foray into both numerology and angel numbers. While eight isn’t necessarily considered lucky in our neck of the woods, it is in Chinese culture because the word for this number sounds similar to the word for fortune – Bā and Fā, respectively.

Pennies

You may have heard the rhyme, “find a penny, pick it up, all the day you’ll have good luck.” But why is this smallest amount of change so lucky? One reason may be that ancient people believed that copper was a gift from the gods – of course, today’s pennies have no copper in them.

If you find enough pennies, they could add up to enough to buy a candy bar in the next year or so, which some people may see as lucky. While it’s most common with dimes, some believe that finding any change with a certain meaningful date on it may be a message from a loved one who has passed on.

Rabbit’s Foot

The procurement of a lucky rabbit’s foot was not very lucky on the rabbit’s part, but there is a reason this piece of bunny is so popular as a novelty gift shop item – rabbits have attributes some folks want, like virility.

Like many good luck charms, the rabbit’s foot is popular in more places than the U.S. What’s most interesting is that a search on what makes them lucky brings you to all sorts of myths about the rabbit itself – such as, one must be killed on a full moon, or possibly a new moon, to have its feet be considered lucky. While we’re not looking for werebunnies, some believe they must be killed with a silver bullet, and others that they need to die in a cemetery for their luck to be had.