We all know someone who has a lucky charm, ritual, or superstition that they believe keeps them safe and helps them have good luck. But do these rituals and charms really work? Or are they just for fun? Read below to know about some of the interesting myths about good luck believed in different cultures.
1. Seeing White Butterfly
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If the first butterfly you see at the beginning of the year is white, you shall have good luck all year. This superstition comes from several cultures. In some cultures it is believed if a white butterfly flies into your home, it signifies the arrival of good luck, and in some cultures, it represents a soul that has found peace.
The white butterfly is an extremely gentle creature, which also symbolizes purity and innocence. Some belief, if you see a white butterfly anywhere near you, no matter where you are, that is a very good sign. You should feel happy and blessed by this event because the universe has just sent you a little reminder that you are on the right path in life.
2. Finding Four-leaf Clover
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Some people think that if you find a four-leaf clover, it will bring you good fortune. According to folklore, each leaf represents something: the first is for hope, the second is for faith, the third is for love and the fourth is for luck. The four-leafed clover was considered to be sacred and a symbol of good fortune. One of the most famous accounts of this comes from Irish legend and folklore in which it was believed that four-leaf clovers could help people see fairies and avoid their mischief, which was often blamed for bad luck.
3. Carrying Rabbit’s Foot
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Some believes that carrying around a rabbit’s shall bring good luck. They’re believed to bring anything from health to money (or even love). It was thought to be a powerful talisman in the ancient world, and some cultures even believed that rabbits were messengers from the gods. In many cultures, rabbits symbolized fertility, so it was only natural that their feet would also become a symbol of good fortune and safe pregnancy.
4. Knocking on Wood
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It may seem like a strange thing to do, but knocking on wood is actually a very ancient custom that has been passed down through the ages. People used to believe that spirits lived inside trees and knocking on wood was a way to request their help or protection.
They believed that these good spirits would help prevent bad things from happening to them, so when people were about to embark on a new venture or try something unfamiliar, they would knock on wood for good luck. Although this practice is not observed in much of the world today, it still exists in some cultures and can be seen as an expression of faith in the unseen.
5. Carrying Eagle’s Feather
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Eagle feathers have long been considered a symbol of wisdom and power. If you’re superstitious about luck, carrying an eagle’s feather is a well-known good luck charm. This is because in some cultures eagles are considered to be harbingers of truth, courage, great strength, and freedom in many cultures. For hundreds of years, people have thought that the toe feathers of an eagle should be worn as a good luck charm.
6. Keeping an Acorn in Your Pocket
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The myth goes that acorns were once magical and contained all the magic of the forest. A storm scattered all this magic throughout the woods, and each time an acorn falls to Earth, a little bit of magic is kept for humans to use. Keeping an acorn in your pocket or wallet will attract good fortune. Acorns are also known to ward off evil spirits, so the myth goes that if you keep one in your house, you will be protected from bad fortune.
7. Hanging Horseshoe in House
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Hanging a horseshoe in a “U” shape is believed to bring good luck while keeping the evil out of your home or business place. Still today it is practiced in some cultures. Horseshoes were traditionally made of iron, which was thought to be an element that evil spirits could not cross through. The horseshoe shape was thought to trap evil forces so they couldn’t harm the wearer.
8. Hanging Garlic in Kitchen
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Hanging garlic in your kitchen is said to create good luck for you and your family. Some believe that this dates back to the Middle Ages in Europe when garlic was believed to ward off evil spirits. Another reason people hang garlic in their kitchens is that it helps the garlic keep longer. The whole head of garlic stays fresher than the individual cloves, so by keeping it whole and hanging it up, you can make sure that it’ll stay fresh for longer. Plus, you don’t have to worry about losing or misplacing a clove! It’s hard to say whether or not the belief that hanging garlic brings good luck is true. But we do know that there are functional reasons why people hang garlic in their kitchens!
9. Crossing Your Fingers
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Cross fingers for luck is a popular practice found in many cultures. The legend goes that, back in the day, Christians used to point the index and middle fingers of their right hands towards each other while holding their left hand below it as a way to represent the cross on which Jesus was crucified. This custom was thought to bring good luck—and also keep demons away. There are a surprising number of myths about the origin of crossing fingers for luck. Like many things, the true origin is difficult to trace.
10. Falling Jacaranda Blossoms on Your Head
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Jacarandas are a beautiful type of flowering tree. But in some parts of the world, they’re seen as more than just pretty faces—they can also bring good luck! Falling Jacaranda blossoms are believed to bring good luck to whoever they fall on: specifically, a year of good luck if it falls on your head—and triple that if it lands in your mouth! The Jacaranda tree is thought to inspire positive energy in those who come into contact with it.
A lot of these “common knowledge” beliefs about good luck have no actual base in experience or fact. Good luck isn’t a mystical force; it’s just probabilities. And whether or not you believe in it, being prepared can help boost your chances of success.
So, if the odds are against you? Shake it off, quit worrying about good luck, and get to work. See problems as challenges and not as roadblocks. Don’t complain or give up when you encounter problems because you know that problems are just part of life’s journey! We should all strive to put forward positive actions and hope that these actions result in good luck for us.
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