Fewgood luck charmsare as recognizable as the horseshoe . You ’ll find them hanging over the entry of homes and barns and show on clothing , jewelry , and in yourmagically delicious cereal . People evengift them to newlyweds . But why is this humblehorse hoof accessorya symbol of lot ?
A Brief History of Lucky Horseshoes
One of the early mentions of a horseshoe being used to ward off evil is a 10th - 100 tarradiddle that involves thepatron saint of blacksmith , Saint Dunstan , and his encounter with the ogre . The legend says that one fateful day , as the blacksmith worked in his shop , the devil enteredand postulate shoes for his own hoof . Saint Dunstan knew he could not refuse the petition , so he nailed burning hot shoe forcefully into Satan ’s hoof . The dreaded pain made the Beelzebub beg the blacksmith to remove the brake shoe . Saint Dunstan agreed under one condition — Satan would have to swear never to enrol any place with a horseshoe hanging at the entry .
Other folks tales surrounding the horseshoe involved not their Creator , but their material . Iron had what many look at to be “ mystic power . ” Witches were enunciate to be soafraid of ironthat they never traveled by horseback , and some suppose it coulddrive off fairiesand other mythical creatures . The iron in the shoes was so worthful that citizenry could use themto yield their taxesduring the 12th - century Crusades .
Another theory is that the horseshoe ’s symbolism comes from Mediterranean cultures who believed thecrescent human body — interchangeable to that of a shoe — served as security against the curse of the evil eye . Archaeologists have uncoveredmany ancient amuletsin the placeable shoe human body that were likely employed as security against negative force and bad luck .
Horseshoes are also linked to thenumber seven , see one of the luckiest numerals . It ’s significant in many worldly concern religion , including Christianity , Islam , Judaism , Hinduism , and Buddhism , and takes on an important rolein music and maths . Horseshoes traditionally had seven nail holes ( thoughthat numbernow varies ) .
We ca n’t leave the horse themselves . Not only have horsesgreatly shaped human account , but several cultivation have historically watch the fauna as sacred or prosperous [ PDF ] .
How to Hang a Horseshoe For Good Luck
There ’s some public debate about which direction you shouldhang a horseshoe . Some hang their shoe with the ends facing upwards ( forming the contour of a U ) so the luck detain within it ; others position them with the ends facing down so the honorable luck flow out toward those who slip away by it . There ’s evena beliefthat hanging a horseshoe with the end face down isunluckybecause it will cause all the unspoiled fortune to spill out .
If you want the lucky of all favourable horseshoes , devote care to the horse who wore it . Some the great unwashed believeyou should choose one that came from the hind leg of a gray mare . And if you ask to prevent a witch from stealing your butter , placethe shoeof a 2 - year - old filly on the churn .
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