The horseshoe is considered very lucky and used to be hung in homes to protect it and attract good fortune for the family residing inside. As with many superstitions, contradictions can be found with the beliefs associated with the horseshoe.
For instance, many believe that to hang a horseshoe with the ends pointing upward, is good luck as it acts as a storage container for any good luck that happens to be floating by, whereas to hang it with the ends pointing down is bad luck because all the good luck will fall out.
Others believe that no matter which way you hang the horseshoe, good luck will come. According to this superstition, ends pointing down simply means that the good luck is able to flow out and surround the home. If the horseshoe is hung over a doorway with ends up, it will catch good luck. Hung over a door with ends down, it will let the good luck spill over the door and stop evil from entering.
Perhaps a combination of the two was used so that after a few days, when the horseshoe was filled with good luck, it would be emptied so residents could benefit from that luck—then the process would repeat until the end of time.
Historically, horseshoes were also considered lucky because they were made by blacksmiths, which is considered a very lucky trade. Because they worked with elemental fire and magical iron, they were thought to have special powers. It was believed that a blacksmith could heal the sick and if a couple was married by a blacksmith, their marriage would be a happy one. Their work with horses also brought them much power and prestige, not just because they made the lucky horseshoe, but because they were the keepers of the Horseman’s Word (the basis for the movie, The Horse Whisperer).
An upside-down horseshoe above a doorway is a common sight in a smithy. A superstitious blacksmith and apprentice believe that the luck from the horseshoe will flow toward him or her, their tools, and eventually to whatever project they are working on. Perhaps there might even be some luck left over to keep a steady flow of paying customers to the door of the blacksmith shop.
Iron Magic
Horseshoes were originally made from iron, which may also account for the superstitions that are associated with this object. Iron was considered magical because it withstood fire and was much stronger than other metals. The superstitions for iron are thought to originate in prehistoric times. It was used as a charm to ward off evil spirits.
Lucky 7
Another aspect of the horseshoe that added to its good luck was that it was commonly held in place by seven iron nails. Since ancient times, the number seven has been considered very important. Life was divided into seven ages; a rainbow has seven colors; astrology once held that seven planets made up the universe; there are seven deadly sins; a seventh child was thought to have special powers; there are seven days in a week; the moon changes from one phase to another every seven days; and a long-held belief states that the body goes through a radical change every seven years.
So the next time you stop by the smithy at Walker Ranch or the Agricultural Heritage Center, look up and take notice of our good luck charms. And make sure to take a bit of luck home with you!
For instance, many believe that to hang a horseshoe with the ends pointing upward, is good luck as it acts as a storage container for any good luck that happens to be floating by, whereas to hang it with the ends pointing down is bad luck because all the good luck will fall out.
In some culture, a horseshoe is hung with its ends facing upwards as this position denotes a container/bowl that can store good luck. The 'U' shape of a horseshoe is a symbol of good fortune. However, some consider hanging a horseshow upside down as it brings prosperity and good luck.
Although the origins are not exactly known, it is believed that the horseshoe became the symbol of luck when the eighth century Chaldeans thought its crescent shape represented various moon goddesses thus protecting against the curse of the evil eye.
for want of a shoe the horse was lost;and for want of a horse the rider was lost.All for the want of a horse-shoe nail. The proverb is found in a number of forms.
Horseshoes can be seen outside of homes or businesses above front doors and back doors and also inside of homes above entryways and doorways. There is a strong Irish belief that the shoes be hung upright like the 'letter U' to collect and store the luck inside.
In addition to being nailed above doors and gateways, horseshoe charms and rings are commonly worn as talismans and amulets. Tradition holds they should be worn with the open end directed upward or, when it comes to rings, towards one's body. That's because the U- shape resembles a bowl, and you'd want the bowl full.
Horseshoes have long been considered lucky. They were originally made of iron, a material that was believed to ward off evil spirits, and traditionally were held in place with seven nails, seven being the luckiest number.
5- Paint the stakes. White is usually used, but it is Fun for the kids if you paint them bright neon colors. 6- When pitching is over for the day, cover the pits and put away all tools.
A good luck charm is an amulet or other item that is believed to bring good luck. Almost any object can be used as a charm. Coins and buttons are examples, as are small objects given as gifts, due to the favorable associations they make.
The horseshoe is what the horse walks on. Horses represent strength, power, and authority in the Bible (Job 39:19-25). The horse is ready to go to war (Proverbs 21:31). The horseshoe represents the ability to walk in strength, power, and authority.
Early Western Europeans believed that horseshoes, which were most commonly forged from iron at the time, were lucky because the metal substance could drive away evil. Many folktales from the region tell that mischievous and malicious fairies are kept at bay by iron.
In popular discourse, the horseshoe theory asserts that advocates of the far-left and the far-right, rather than being at opposite and opposing ends of a linear continuum of the political spectrum, closely resemble each other, analogous to the way that the opposite ends of a horseshoe are close together.
I can always tell which is the front end of a horse, but beyond that my art is not above the ordinary. If the horses knew their strength we should not ride anymore. My experience of horses is that they never throw away a chance to go lame, and that in all respects they are well meaning and unreliable animals.
For the Greeks, the inverted horseshoe resembled the letter “omega,” Ω. Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet and represents the boundary of what exists. It's a symbol of our essence, those characteristics that make us uniquely who we are. Omega serves as a reminder that we exist uniquely in our own reality.
While the horseshoe is known for being a symbol of luck, there is an important distinction to make when placing your ink. Hanging a horseshoe with the ends pointing down is believed that the luck will “fall out,” thus defeating the purpose of your horseshoe.
Some posit that it dates back to the middle ages, when people would hang it above their doors to ward off witches; in Ireland, the legend goes that blacksmith named Saint Dunstan nailed a hot horseshoe to one of the devil's hooves, causing the devil so much pain that hanging a horseshoe over the door was forevermore a ...
Introduction: My name is Frankie Dare, I am a funny, beautiful, proud, fair, pleasant, cheerful, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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