There are many good luck charms that supposedly bring good luck and good fortune because they put off positive energy. Many different cultures have their own symbols of luck. Some of the symbols are seen as being lucky and other are seen as having the ability to bring good fortune or ward off bad spirits or bad fortune. Some items are even seen as wish makers. Here are some of the most popular symbols of luck:
Ladybugs: When a ladybug lands on you it is said to be good luck. Killing a ladybug is considered bad luck.
Scarabs: Scarabs were considered good luck beetles in ancient Egypt.
Rainbow: Rainbows are lucky because at the end of the rainbow is a pot of gold. A rainbow also has seven different colors.
Tigers: Tigers are considered lucky in Chinese astrology. The tiger is also considered a protector against certain evils including theft and fire.
Rabbits Foot: Many rabbit feet are fitted to be carried on key chains for good luck and protection to the traveler.
Buddha figure: A Buddha charm or statue is thought of as being lucky, especially if you rub Buddha’s belly.
Dream Catcher: Dream catchers are from Native American’s and are considered good fortune because they catch negative images from dreams and have been known to ward of bad dreams.
Horseshoe: Horseshoes are thought to bring good fortune when they are hung up on the wall of a home or above a doorway. Blacksmiths that made horseshoes were considered to be lucky.
Pot of Gold: You find a pot of gold at the end of rainbow, making it really lucky.
Nautical star: The nautical star is a good luck symbol because it is seen as providing guidance for sailors.
The Number Seven: Probably the luckiest and most talked about number, the number seven is considered lucky by different cultures, including the U.S. culture. The number seven is a lucky number all over the world and is important in world religions like Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity.
Four Leaf Clover or Shamrock: St. Patrick’s Day has made the four leaf clover a popular symbol of luck. Four leaf clovers do exist; they are just not as common as the three leaf variety. So if you find one, it is said to be good luck.
Bamboo: Bamboo is considered good luck, specifically a certain type, named Lucky Bamboo. Feng Shui experts suggest the use of bamboo in your house as good luck.
Wishbone: A wishbone is a symbol of good luck and it is also a wish maker. When you find the wishbone, two people give the wishbone a tug and each of them make a wish. After the wishbone breaks, the person with the bigger piece will have their wish granted.
Falling Star: A falling star or a shooting star is lucky because it is rare to see one and you should make a wish after seeing one as it will be granted.
Lucky Penny: Many people bend over and pick up a penny lying on the ground if it is laying heads up, because it is considered good luck. Some people even keep the penny for good fortune.
Sharks Tooth: A sharks tooth is said to have protective and healing powers. They are also said to bring good luck. Many people wear them on necklaces or keep them somewhere in their house.
The Cross: Well known because of Christianity, the cross serves as good luck and a symbol to ward off evil and protect the person who bears it. Legend has it that the undead cannot attack you if you hold up a cross, the symbol of God, as good deflects evil. Many people wear crosses around their neck or carry a cross as a symbol of good luck and to keep them safe.
Garlic: Garlic was seen as a vampire vanquishing tool back in the middle ages. If you were to wear a chain of garlic around your neck the garlic was the closest thing to an antibiotic in the middle ages, so it was considered good luck to wear it and keep it close by.
Salt: Throwing salt over the shoulder is considered good luck, but spilling salt is bad luck. If you throw salt over your shoulder you are said to be putting the devil behind you. Superstitions about salt date back to biblical times when salt was a highly prized commodity, one reason why it was bad luck to spill salt. You should throw salt over your shoulder to ward off the devil, because the devil could be waiting over your left shoulder. Another reason spilling salt could be considered bad luck is because it is thought that Judas spilled salt at the Last Supper. Another belief is that your guardian angel (who can be found over your right shoulder) spills salt to warn you of evil nearby, so throw salt over your left shoulder to put salt in the devils eyes. It is also said that if you put a small layer of salt outside surrounding your entire house outside it will ward off evil.
Although science has defeated superstition mostly, we can’t help but pick up a penny lying on the street or smile when we come across a four leaf clover.
