Lucky Charms Around The World

It’s common for people to keep lucky charms. Be it for encouraging good results in an exam, or maybe just for general good luck in every day life, there are many forms that lucky charms take. And, of course, some lucky charms can be awfully strange, when one stops to think about it. After all, what exactly is lucky about a horseshoe?

Either way, many people are superstitious and rely on these talismans to bring them good fortune. Gamblers are notoriously superstitious too, and lucky charms are commonly featured at casinos, and in slots games, so much so that a person tends to forget the true origins of these curious objects. Here are some of the more commonly seen lucky charms of today, and a little bit more about them.

Four Leaf Clovers

A four-leaf clover is perhaps the most widely known lucky charm. With clovers growing in many locations across the world, the clover is a commonly recognised little plant. But what exactly is it about a simple little plant, and the number of leaves it has, that is supposed to be lucky?

The four-leaf clover is, first of all, very firmly rooted in Irish tradition and folklore. During Saint Patrick’s Day four leaf clovers are especially prevalent, appearing in decorations across the country. The four leaves symbolise faith, hope, love and luck. But where did it all begin?

Sadly, the exact origins of why the four-leaf clover became so popular are not exactly known. What is known is that the superstition has existed since well back into Biblical times. Why the plant first became so revered is, however, lost to history.

Horseshoes

Horseshoes are the next most commonly seen symbol of luck. Simple in design, but often far heavier than most assume, horse shoes are not so much a part of modern society as they once were. After all, who needs horseshoes when you have a car?

Either way, horseshoes are still common lucky symbols. But why, exactly?

Apparently back when people were still afraid of goblins, it was a good idea to hang a horseshoe over the doorway. Because, it was said, the goblins were primitive, and manipulated iron was a scary sight to them. So the simple presence of iron was enough to send them packing.

Rabbit’s Foot

The lucky rabbit’s foot is another that can be found across the world, including China and Africa. Today, of course, you will likely not find a real rabbit’s foot in your local novelty shop, and in modern days artificial rabbit’s foot charms are far more common. But back in the day they were real.

So why is a rabbit’s foot lucky? It seems that this tradition is linked closely to old shamanistic and tribal medicinal beliefs. People were given rabbit’s foot charms to help with fertility, given how keen on reproducing rabbits are. So, apparently, carrying the foot of a frisky animal would make the person frisky as well.

The Number 7

And finally the number 7. You can hardly play a slots game without coming across the number 7, the most revered of all the numbers. There aren’t as many interesting reasons that the number 7 is lucky, other than to say that it’s a pretty interesting number.

There are, after all, 7 days in a week, 7 colours in a rainbow, 7 planets visible with the naked eye, and plenty more. Plus, as far as casino games go, you’ll also want to see a 7 more often than not. Put craps dice in a player’s hand, and see how much they start loving this number!