Field Guide to Luck by Alys R. Yablon

Author:Alys R. Yablon [Yablon, Alys R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-59474-836-3
Publisher: Quirk Books
Published: 2015-02-24T05:00:00+00:00

Related Superstitions:

Evil Eye

36. horseshoe

HORSESHOE

General Description:

A protective covering for the hoof originally made of iron but now often made of steel, plastics, and other materials. Glued or nailed onto the hooves of a horse, horseshoes safeguard the feet of domesticated, draught, and racing horses from wear by elements such as cement or cobblestone. When horseshoes fall off (and they often do), they become endowed with lucky energies that will transfer to the finder.

Origins:

Several existing theories explain the origins of the horseshoe as a good-luck symbol. One dates to the tenth century, when the Archbishop of Canterbury, a trained blacksmith, nailed a horseshoe to the hoof of the Devil, who came to him in disguise. When Satan realized that the shoe caused him pain, the archbishop offered to remove it, but only if Satan agreed to avoid homes with horseshoes hung over the doors. He agreed. As a result, those seeking to avoid run-ins with evil decorate with this U-shaped charm.

Blacksmiths, even those who don’t serve illustrious clients such as Satan, were generally revered artisans and were believed to have magical powers because they worked with fire and iron (both supernatural, alchemical elements). Furthermore, the original iron horseshoes were held in place with seven iron nails, a number that is particularly auspicious. The association with good luck is further strengthened by the horseshoe’s crescent shape, since the moon has long been a symbol of fertility and higher powers.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.