good luck charms from around the world

Many people believe walking under a ladder propped up against a wall brings bad luck. This is because walking under a ladder is said to break the unity of the three member unit represented by a triangle (#22) either the family (two parents and a child) or the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). If you do walk under a ladder, fix your luck by crossing your fingers and spitting through its rungs three times. (Bonus fact! Ancient Egyptians included ladders in dead peoples tombs to help them reach heaven.)

The cat s eye is a special gemstone said to repel the Evil Eye and clear obstacles in one s life. Gamblers frequently wear or have them to prevent losses as they re said to prevent unseen potential losses.

The main way to unlock anything from a heart to a door, the key has been a good luck charm for longer than most. Ancient Greeks and Romans believed a lucky key unlocked the door to the gods, allowing one s prayers to reach their ears. In Japanese culture, it s lucky to have three keys tied together as they will unlock the doors to health, wealth, and love.

Elephants are good luck symbols any place they roam, especially in India where the god Ganesha is the remover of obstacles and bringer of luck. An image near one s front door of two elephants facing each other with their trunks facing up is said to welcome visitors to one s home. Due to their intelligence and long lives, they also represent wisdom and longevity.

Four leaf clovers are firmly tied to the Irish and considered lucky anywhere you find them. St. Patrick originally used a three leaf clover to represent the Holy Trinity and Irish Druids used it as a good luck charm (due to its triangular shape) before Christianity came to the Emerald Isle. Your odds of finding a four leaf clover are about 1 in 10,000, but, if you do find one, the four leaves represent hope, faith, love, and luck.

According to some, keeping a stick of cinnamon in your purse or wallet will bring you a steady income, or at least make your credit cards smell nice.

Lentils are also said to be a financial good luck charm, and are often eaten as the first meal of the New Year in Brazil for that purpose.

A goldfish kept in an aquarium in your house brings positivity and good luck. If you want to get really crazy, you can follow

Spiders are supposed to be good luck in matters of trade (and also for weavers), but on the other hand, *screaming.*

The alfalfa spice (not to be confused with alfalfa sprouts, though I can t see how trying those would hurt) is