List of lucky symbols

This is a list of lucky symbols, signs and charms. Luck is symbolized by a wide array of objects, numbers, symbols, plant and animal life which vary significantly in different cultures globally. The significance of each symbol is rooted in either folklore, mythology, esotericism, religion, tradition, necessity or a combination thereof.

Symbol		Culture	Notes
7		Christian	[1][2]
8		Chinese	Sounds like the Chinese word for "fortune". See Numbers in Chinese culture#Eight
Albatross			Considered a sign of good luck if seen by sailors.[3][4]
Bamboo		Chinese	[5]
Barnstar		United States	[6][7]
Chimney sweep		Many parts of the world	Said to bring good luck when being touched, especially on New Year and on weddings.
Ladybugs		German, Italian, Russian, Turkish, Serbia (Srbija)	There is an old children's song in Serbia "Fly, fly, ladybug, bring me the happiness" meaning "Let, let, bubamaro, donesi mi sreću". In serbian "sreća" meaning "good chances" as in a lottery or "happiness", but this is about emotions.
Dreamcatcher		Native American (Ojibwe)	[8][9]
Fish		Chinese, Hebrew, Ancient Egyptian, Tunisian, Indian, Japanese	[10][11][12][13][14][15]
Four-leaf clover		Irish and the Celts	[16][17]
Horseshoe		English and several other European ethnicities	Horseshoes are considered lucky when turned upwards but unlucky when turned downwards but some people believe the opposite.[18][19]
Jade		Chinese
Maneki-neko		Japanese, Chinese	Often mistaken as a Chinese symbol due to its usage in Chinese communities, the Maneki-neko is Japanese.
Pig		Chinese, German	[20]
Rabbit's foot			A rabbit's foot can be worn or carried as a lucky charm.[21]
Wishbone		Europe, North America	[22]
Sarimanok		Maranao
White Elephant		Burmese, Thai	[23]
Aitvaras		Lithuanian

See also

• List of unlucky symbols

Notes

1. Dolnick and Davidson, p. 85
2. Greer, p. 21
3. Webster, p. 6
4. Dodge, p. 748
5. Parker, p. 150
6. Urbina, Eric (July 22, 2006). "For the Pennsylvania Dutch, a Long Tradition Fades". The New York Times. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
7. Votruba, Cindy (September 8, 2008). "It's in the Stars". Marshall Independent. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
8. Young, Eric (February 2, 1998). "New Age Solution for Coping with Material-world Tension" ((subscription required)). The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
9. Thrall, Christopher (September 17, 2005). "Objects in the mirror may be more complex than they appear" (subscription required). Postmedia News. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
10. Helfman, p. 400
11. Marks, p. 199
12. Toussaint-Samat, p. 311
13. Hackett, Smith, & al-Athar, p. 218
14. Sen, p. 158
15. Volker, p. 72
16. Dolnick and Davidson, p. 38
17. Binney, p. 115
18. Cooper, p. 86
19. DeMello, p. 35
20. Webster, p. 202
21. Webster, p. 212
22. Edward A. Armstrong."The Folklore of Birds" (Dover Publications, 1970)
23. "'Lucky' white elephant for Burma". BBC News. November 9, 2001.

Sources

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• Chapman, Mark (2004). "Nominally Chinatown". Reed College Luce Chinese Studies Grants. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
• Cioccolanti, Steve (2010). From Buddha to Jesus: An Insider's View of Buddhism and Christianity. Monarch Books. ISBN 1-85424-956-8. OCLC 455828844.
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