List of lucky symbols

This is a list of lucky symbols, signs, and charms. Luck is symbolized by a wide array of objects, numbers, symbols, plant and animal life which vary significantly in different cultures globally. The significance of each symbol is rooted in either folklore, mythology, esotericism, religion, tradition, necessity or a combination thereof.

Symbol Culture Notes
7 Western [1][2]
8 Chinese Sounds like the Chinese word for "fortune". See Numbers in Chinese culture#Eight
Aitvaras Lithuania
Albatross Considered a sign of good luck if seen by sailors.[3][4]
Amanita muscaria
Ashtamangala Indian religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism Buddhism: Endless knot, Lotus flower, Dhvaja, Dharmachakra, Bumpa, Golden Fish, Parasol, Conch; additional symbols for Hinduism and Jainism
Bamboo Chinese [5]
Barnstar United States [6][7]
Chimney sweep Many parts of the world Said to bring good luck when being touched, especially on New Year and on weddings.
Corno portafortuna Central and Southern Italy
Ladybugs German, Italian, Russian, Turkish, Serbia (Srbija) There is an old children's song in Serbia "Let, let, bubamaro, donesi mi sreću" meaning "Fly, fly, ladybug, bring me the happiness". In Serbian, "sreća" means "good chances" as in a lottery or "happiness", but this is about emotions.
Dreamcatcher Native American (Ojibwe) [8][9]
Fish Chinese, Hebrew, Ancient Egyptian, Tunisian, Indian, Japanese [10][11][12][13][14][15]
Bird or flock going from right to left Paganism Auspicia
A monk passing through Buddhist
Four-leaf clover Irish and Celtic, German [16][17]
Shamrock or Clover Irish While in most of the world, only the four-leafed clover is considered lucky, in Ireland all Irish Shamrocks are.
Horseshoe English and several other European ethnicities Horseshoes are considered lucky when turned upwards but unlucky when turned downwards, although some people believe the opposite.[18][19]
Jade Chinese
Maneki-neko Japanese, Chinese Often mistaken as a Chinese symbol due to its usage in Chinese communities, the Maneki-neko is Japanese.
Pig Chinese, German [20]
Rabbit's foot North America, England and Wales (originating from a hare's foot) A rabbit's foot can be worn or carried as a lucky charm.[21]
Wishbone Europe, North America [22]
Sarimanok Maranao
Swallow Korea Rooted in Folktale 'Heungbu and Nolbu'
Tortoise shell cat Many cultures Rooted in Folklore
White Elephant Thai [23]
White heather Irish Travellers, Scotland
Jew with a coin Poland Thought to bring money. [24][25][26]

See also

Notes

  1. Dolnick and Davidson, p. 85
  2. Greer, p. 21
  3. Webster, p. 6
  4. Dodge, p. 748
  5. Parker, p. 150
  6. Urbina, Eric (July 22, 2006). "For the Pennsylvania Dutch, a Long Tradition Fades". The New York Times. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  7. Votruba, Cindy (September 8, 2008). "It's in the Stars". Marshall Independent. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  8. Young, Eric (February 2, 1998). "New Age Solution for Coping with Material-world Tension". The Sacramento Bee. ProQuest 246401007.
  9. Thrall, Christopher (September 17, 2005). "Objects in the mirror may be more complex than they appear". Postmedia News. ProQuest 460167802.
  10. Helfman, p. 400
  11. Marks, p. 199
  12. Toussaint-Samat, p. 311
  13. Hackett, Smith, & al-Athar, p. 218
  14. Sen, p. 158
  15. Volker, p. 72
  16. Dolnick and Davidson, p. 38
  17. Binney, p. 115
  18. Cooper, p. 86
  19. DeMello, p. 35
  20. Webster, p. 202
  21. Webster, p. 212
  22. Edward A. Armstrong."The Folklore of Birds" (Dover Publications, 1970)
  23. "'Lucky' white elephant for Burma". BBC News. November 9, 2001.
  24. Tartakowsky, Ewa. "Le Juif à la pièce d’argent." La vie des idées (2017).
  25. The Jew with a Coin: Analysis of a contemporary folkloric emblem (AAPJ), Joanna Tokarska-Bakir, 2019.
  26. Driving to Treblinka: A Long Search for a Lost Father, Diana Wichtel, 2018, Awa Press, page 144. link to extract from book in Nzherald, published 16 May 2018

Sources

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