Most people would have heard about
clovers, long considered lucky in Celtic cultures. Today, the three-leaf
clover (shamrock) is still considered lucky in Ireland whereas in the US
and Europe, it is the four-leaf ones which are coveted.
Some think the rare four-leaf ones have added powers because the druids
used clover in spells and the leaves present the four elements of alchemy
(Water, Earth, Air and Fire)
It is also believed carriers of the four leaf clover are granted special
powers to see fairies, detect witches and recognise evil spirits.
If you can't get the actual clover, wearing it in sterling silver is also
said to act as a lucky charm.
Guardian Angels are valued collectibles in the Western world. Their
guidance is thought to help us attain a better future.
Many religions believe in the existence of angels.
Psychoanalysts think
this helps us form a danger warning system in our sub-conscious.
Whatever the reasoning , having a cute angel in a corner can't hurt -
someone watching out for us, helping us to avoid danger while bringing
good fortune too is always welcome.
Then there is the ladybug. It is said
that if one lands on you and flies away on its own, it's lucky.
Central Europeans and similarly some Swedes believe that if a ladybug
crawls across a maiden's hand, she would soon be married.
In England, each spots means a lucky month to come. Canadians say that if
you make a wish and let the ladybug fly away, the direction it flies shows
the direction from which your wish will come. Maybe it's time we traipsed
into our gardens for some ladybug luck.
In Germany, the pig is considered lucky. The reputation probably came from
Germany's ancient people, the Teutons for whom the pig was a symbol of
wealth and fertility. Ever wondered why coin boxes are still often
referred to as piggy banks?
The lucky horseshoe we would all have read about
in storybooks, is of course, another good luck symbol of the Western
world.
