Every culture has its own good luck symbols, emblems believed to bring in good fortune and luck, ward off evil, usher in prosperity and remove negative energy and sickness. And behind every good luck symbol is a superstition, born of cultural perspectives and rooted in history. Whether you believe in them or not, they permeate our culture and can be found everywhere – in jewelry and fashion, architecture, literature, arts and religion.
Good luck charms range from acorns, to horseshoes, dreamcatchers to four leaf clovers, depending on the context it’s viewed within. They vary from culture to culture. Sometimes, what’s considered good luck in one culture, can have a different meaning in another. So, as with every symbol, context is everything.
In our articles on good luck symbols, we’ve explored popular lucky charms from around the world, outlining their significance, relevance and symbolism.
Commonly used in feng shui as a love cure, the double happiness symbol is comprised of two connected Chinese characters xi and is frequently seen as a decorative motif in traditional weddings. ...
If you take a trip to the Middle East or North Africa, chances are you'll spot a lot of people wearing the Hand of Fatima, also known as Hamsa. You may even hear people mutter "Hamsa, Hamsa, ...
Kokopelli is an interesting symbol, featuring a hunchbacked flute player. The first images of Kokopelli appeared on Hohokam pottery over 1000 years ago. Sometimes he is illustrated with a sack ...
Kissing under the mistletoe is a well-known holiday tradition, that’s given rise to countless romantic storylines. But how did this herb really become associated with a Christmastime kiss? Since ...
Every culture has superstitions of which some originated thousands of years ago. Belief in the evil eye is widespread in Mediterranean countries, and nazar boncugu is a Turkish charm to protect ...
A pair of golden fish (carp, usually) forms part of the Ashtamangala, an eight-piece suite of auspicious signs associated with Buddhism and other related beliefs like Jainism and Hinduism. In this ...
The wishbone is a popular good luck symbol in the Western world and is a favorite custom at Thanksgiving dinner tables. Today, it’s a popular design for jewelry and tattoos, and features in ...
One of the very oldest existing amulets, the cimaruta is a Roman protective charm, featuring a sprig of rue with several apotropaic symbols to ward off evil. Like many of the lasting ancient ...
Anchors are practical objects, used to keep vessels in place. But they’re also a beautiful symbol, often used on jewelry, clothing and for decorative objects. The reason for using the anchor ...
Also called the All-Seeing Eye, the Eye of Providence features an eye surrounded by rays of light, often enclosed in a triangle. It has been used for centuries in numerous cultures, traditions, ...
The lucky bamboo has invaded thousands of homes as a popular house plant, but do you know what exactly makes this plant special? In this article, we’ll trace the roots of how the lucky bamboo ...
Have you ever wondered why goldfish are among the most popular pets in the world? One reason is because they are believed to bring good fortune and prosperity to the homes that take care of them. ...
