Why is a horseshoe considered lucky?

(Published on 03 April 2007 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Good luck coins, lucky rabbit feet, four-leaf clovers, wishbones, horseshoes, rattlesnake rattles, black-eyed peas, lucky charm vials and talismans are just few of the lucky charms that people keep to bring them good luck. Is this just a superstition or do these lucky charms have unseen powers? As per the Oxford dictionary – a superstition is a widely held but irrational belief in supernatural influences. It is a belief that future events are influenced by specific things or behaviours, without having any relationship to it whatsoever.

One of the most common lucky charms is the horseshoe. The use of worn-out horseshoes, as having protective powers, originated in Europe, where one can still find them nailed on top of doorways. As per legend, one day St. Dunstan, formerly a blacksmith was working at his forge, in Mayfield, a village in north-east Sussex. The Devil, disguised as a beautiful woman paid him a visit with the intention of leading him astray. However St. Dunstan spotted the cloven hooves beneath the dress. He grabbed the devil's nose with his red hot pincers, thus thwarting the Devil’s evil intentions. But it did not end there. For the Devil returned again as a weary traveller in need of a horseshoe. St. Dunstan saw through the disguise once again. He beat the Devil until he pleaded for mercy and swore never to enter any house with a horseshoe above the door.

The church in Mayfield has since been dedicated to St Dunstan. Dunstan became the Archbishop of Canterbury from 960 – 988. He founded Mayfield Palace, one of the great residences of the medieval Archbishops of Canterbury. In 1864 it was presented to The Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus and since then remains a Roman Catholic boarding school. To this day, visitors to the convent can see the famous tongs used by St Dunstan, and his anvil.

Interestingly, the crescent form of the horseshoe is also considered a symbol of the pagan Moon goddesses of ancient Europe such as Artemis and Diana. The horseshoe is also related to other magically protective doorway-goddesses, such as the Irish sheela-na-gig, and to the lunar protectress who is often shown standing on a crescent moon.

People across Europe believe that nailing a horseshoe on their door will ward off evil. It is even represented in the form of jewellery, wall hangings, and printed images. In Europe, the Middle-East, and Latin America protective horseshoes are placed in a downward facing position with the belief that ‘luck pours onto you.’ When hung over doorways for protection, the horseshoe is supposed to point downwards so that ‘no witch will pass under it.’ But in some parts of Ireland and Britain people believe that the horseshoe must be turned upward or ‘the luck will run out.’ In Italy, a horseshoe, worn and discarded by a horse that was found on the road or in a field, is nailed by the side of the door so that the person who enters the door can touch it.

In Turkey horseshoes are blended with the protective all-seeing eye to form a unique charm that is believed to ward off the evil eye. In Mexico, used horseshoes are wrapped in colourful rayon thread, decorated with sequins and holy prints of the horseback-riding San Martin Caballero and backed with a prayer. Terra cotta blue-glazed horseshoe plaques are found in the Middle-East.

Although actual horseshoes are considered to be protective, modern horseshoe jewellery is worn because it is considered lucky. Especially, due to its association with horse-racing, it is believed to have become a gambler's lucky charm. Furthermore, because horseshoes resemble horseshoe magnets, they are also considered to have the power to attract money.

I have no idea whether a horse shoe does have protective powers or the power to bring good luck or the power to attract money. But if I ever do find one lying on the road, I would not just pass it by. I’d bring it home.

“Superstition is foolish, childish, primitive and irrational - but how much does it cost you to knock on wood?” - Judith Viorst


Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com