What Are Good Luck Charms?
Finding a four leaf clover and placing a horseshoe open end up are considered signs and ways of bringing good luck. From Wall Street to sports to the lottery and even when making that presentation in front of the boss, there are many of us who practice some form of drawing good luck into our lives. Good luck charms can be made, bought, found or passed along from generation to generation or friend to friend.
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Defining Good Luck Charms
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Good luck charms can be anything a person believes to be a protector from harm or evil or that draws good luck to them. Charms can include rituals, jewelry, stones, figurines, found objects or touch pieces (coins, medals, medallions). They can be worn, carried or placed in a particular location. According to Migene Gonzalez-Wippler, in her book "The Complete Book Of Amulets and Talismans," a charm is an amulet inscribed with certain symbols or characters. Amulets can be any object but are often created for specific use as an amulet.
Origin of Good Luck Charms
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Remaining Sumerian texts are some of the earliest, translatable examples of human writing and history. They contain descriptions of business transactions, mythologies and the human interactions of our ancient ancestors. Laced in these documents are mention of good luck charms and protection from the "evil eye," which can be translated as protection from trouble or harm. In his book, "Death By Envy," George Aquaro says "wool threads, seeds and stones were often employed to prevent the Evil Eye from striking someone."
Traditional Good Luck Charms
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One of the widely used good luck charms is the blue bead, as noted by Alan Dundes in his book "The Evil Eye." Its round shape is a symbol of the full moon, which is the "giver of life"--it make sense that the giver of life would protect what it creates. The carrying of a rabbit's foot is another traditional good luck charm. Although its use is found in many cultures, it is believed to have been planted in the United States via African-American folklore.
Modern Good Luck Charms
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Stones and jewelry have always been worn as good luck charms. Artists and craftsmen may be the ultimate purveyors of good luck charms. From hand forged religious articles, stamped images on touch stones and handcrafted pendants of silver, gold and stones, artisans have been creating good luck pieces for centuries. Some of the ancient symbols used in these good luck pieces are described by Migene Gonzalez-Wippler as being effective good luck charms due to their historical use.
Uses of Good Luck Charms
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Weddings and births reveal the use of good luck charms. The well-known verbal charm repeated by brides "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe" outlines the actual objects believed to bring the bride a happy marriage. The Encyclopedia of Superstitions delves into the topic of good luck charms for the infant child. When births began to occur in hospitals, many of these good luck charms were lost. One custom involved the bathing of the child's head in rum to banish evil and bring good luck.
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