What is the origin of horse shoes being lucky?

Answer 1

Going back to roman times, the black smith was considered with a degree of taboo and also awe. This is because he worked with Iron.

Whilst rocks and crystals were considered the bones of the mother earth, Iron because of its red colour when oxidised is considered the mensruation of mother earth. Today and in roman times this metal is considered the second most protective substance in the world after the actual menstrual blood of women. In roman times when plague or ilness broke out, the best cure would be forge water, IE, water used by the smith to cool his iron creations.

Due to the taboo nature surrounding menstruation then and now the smithy was considered to have supernatural and occult power. For instance, a smith could invoke a deadly curse upon someone by turning his anvil upside down. He would also take aprentices and teach his students in maths and other arts considered magickal.

The horse shoe itself was considered by smiths of the roman ilk to be protective and powerfull in itself. they would (as do modern black smiths) put it above the door to thier workshop upsidedown. This was so that the magickal and creative powers invoked by the horse shoe (which kinda harnessed the power and energy of the smiths workshop) would flow down onto his forge and empower what he made with beneficial energies.

Everyone else must place it pointing up as the energies it contains would run out if not in a place where spiritual energies could be easly harnessed (such as a normal home.) Whilst located above the door the shoe would proitect the home as its energies of protection would subtley radiate out and primarily stop evil from entering through the door.

It is not uncommon for people to put objects or marks above a door for protection. in india people hang chillies and limes over thier doors with herbs to stop curses. In britain today some in the church of england have a quaint little ceremony where they write the tetters CMB which apparently represent the three wise men that visited Jesus (Casper Melchior and Balthazar), over the front door of the church. these are renewed each year, and presumably comes from some sort of earlier protection ritual.

So in conclusion the horseshoe is regarded as special and potent sybol of protection because it is made of iron and is employed as a magickal device by the smith himself, who is / was regarded as having significant occult powers. The ritual of placing a protective device above doors is common to allot of cultures and the horseshoe is part of this wider phenomenon.

Answer 2

Horseshoes are considered a good luck charm in many cultures. The shape, fabrication, placement, and manner of sourcing are all important. A common tradition is that if a horseshoe is hung on a door with the two ends pointing up (as shown here) then good luck will occur. However, if the two ends point downwards then bad luck will occur. Traditions do differ on this point, though. In some cultures, the horseshoe is hung points down (so the luck pours onto you); in others, it is hung points up (so the luck doesn't fall out); still in others it doesn't matter so long as the horseshoe has been used (not new), was found (not purchased), and can be touched. In all traditions, luck is contained in the shoe and can pour out through the ends.

In some traditions, any good or bad luck achieved will only occur to the owner of the horseshoe, not the person who hangs it up. Therefore, if the horseshoe was stolen, borrowed or even just found then the owner, not the person who found or stole the horseshoe will get any good or bad luck. Other traditions require that the horseshoe be found to be effective.

One reputed origin of the tradition of lucky horseshoes is the story of Saint Dunstan and the Devil. Dunstan, who would become the Archbishop of Canterbury in AD 959, was a blacksmith by trade. The story relates that he once nailed a horseshoe to the Devil's hoof when he was asked to reshoe the Devil's horse. This caused the Devil great pain, and Dunstan only agreed to remove the shoe and release the Devil after the Devil promised never to enter a place where a horseshoe is hung over the door.

Another theory concerning the placing of horseshoes above doorways is to ward off Faeries (the Celtic kind); the theory being that Faeries are repelled by iron and as horseshoes were an easily available source of iron, they could be nailed above a door to prevent any unwanted, otherworldly guests. One can see how the custom, as people began to forget the stories concerning the Fair Folk, eventually morphed into a simple good luck charm. It is also possible that the Romans, when arriving in Celtic countries, came across horseshoes nailed above doors and simply borrowed the concept of horseshoes as good luck charms, failing to understand the background of the Celtic custom, and made their use more widespread....

Answer 3

The best known tradition of lucky horseshoes is the story of Saint Dunstan and the Devil. Dunstan, who became Archbishop of Canterbury in AD 959, was a blacksmith by trade. He nailed a horseshoe to the Devil's hoof when he was asked to reshoe the Devil's horse. This caused the Devil great pain, and Dunstan agreed to remove the shoe and release the Devil after the Devil promised never to enter a place where a horseshoe is hung over the door.

Another reason is the use of horseshoes above doorways to ward off Faeries as they fear iron and as horseshoes were an easily available source of iron. It is likely that this became the reason for horseshoes being regarded as good luck charms.

Answer 4

Horse shoes were originally made of iron, a metal that pagan Europeans considered imbued with powers to ward off evil. People nailed the old, unusable shoes to their doorposts or the lintel as a guard against evil spirits/magic/devil. Incidentally, a horseshoe should be hung with the ends pointing upward so the "luck" doesn't run out.

Answer 5

In most historical book that I read.. The horse shoe is the same shape and sizes as a pagan symbol that was noted for bringing people good luck.. Also the original horse shoe was made out of iron that had the magical properties that was use to ward off demons and ghost..... Also iron was considered a precious metal at one time in ancient history.......

Answer 6

No one really seems to be able to agree on this one.

Have a look at some of the links below for some of the possible origins of the stories surrounding the luck, good or bad and hanging position, up or down, that argue each theory.

Answer 7

IThere are a few ideas about this...

-The horseshoe invokes the crescent moon or 'sacred vulva' shape of pagan moon goddesses (Artemis, Diana, etc.), and so invites their protection.

-The (usually) seven nail holes in a horseshoe invoke the traditionally lucky number 7.

-Horseshoes are usually iron, and iron repels fair-folk, keeping your house free of mischievous demons, imps, pixies, and elves.