Hanging a Horseshoe for Good Luck
So Which is the Correct Way to Hang a Horse's Shoe?
It is a tradition that has been practiced for hundreds of years yet it is one that still maintains some of its believability even today.
Many people believe that finding a horseshoe will bring them good luck while hanging it over the door in the home will presumably keep you safe from bad spirits and harm. Well it turns out that there is some fact to this superstition. Many years ago to find a metal horseshoe was indeed a lucky event as it increased one's prosperity. They were generally made of a durable metal such as iron and that metal could be reused to suit the finder's needs. It could be reused to shoe his own horse, sold, or the metal melted down and reshaped into items to suit his need. In rural communities where supplies would not be abundant and money was often difficult to come by, this find was indeed quite a lucky one. In essence the found horseshoe increased the wealth of the person who now owned it. Why is a horseshoe hung over a door?
Iron is a metal that was and is still used for many purposes including some that are superstitious in nature. Goblins, imps, witches, fairies, and other such manner of spirits are rumoured to fear cold iron and will not cross where it is set. An iron horseshoe is considered lucky when hung over the door of a home because it prevents evil spirits from entering there.
It is believed that hanging a horseshoe over the entrance way of your home or business will protect it from the visitation of supernatural creatures. The presence of the iron will prevent their entry. Another possible explanation for hanging a horseshoe over the entryway originated with a tale of Saint Dunstan and the devil. Saint Dunstan was originally a blacksmith by trade. He was asked to shoe the devil's horse but instead hammered a shoe onto the devil himself. The devil was in so much pain that he made an agreement with Saint Dunstan in exchange for him removing the shoe. The agreement was that the devil would never enter a home with a horseshoe hanging over the door. Many people still believe this to be a viable way of keeping their home safe from wandering spirits. The superstitious nature of this tradition also reinforces the concept of a horseshoe bringing good luck to its owner, for a home without evil spirits within it would be a lucky home indeed. The Correct Direction to Hang a Horseshoe
This is something which you cannot get wrong.The direction that you hang your horseshoe will rely solely on which folklore tale you believe.
Whether upright and upside down it can be seen as lucky or unlucky depending on which culture or wives tale you wish to believe. It is said that hanging a horseshoe with the ends pointing upward will keep the luck held within it. Thereby keeping luck within your home. It is also said that one should hang a horseshoe with the ends pointing downward as this will allow the luck to flow out and into your home. If you are of a superstitious nature then so long as you hang the horseshoe over your doorway it should protect you from evil spirited visitors no matter which direction you hang it. Reasons Why a Horseshoe is Thought to Be Good Luck
1) Most horseshoes have 7 nail holes within them and the letter 7 is considered lucky.
2) The horseshoe is in the shape of a crescent moon and therefore draws in the protection of the moon goddesses. 3) Blacksmiths were well respected and as the horseshoe was a token of their profession it was considered lucky to acquire one. 4) Modern horse racing has the horseshoe as a good luck symbol when carried to the racetrack. 5) It is said that you should touch a horseshoe for good luck so to insure that there is always one within hands reach. A horseshoe is considered luckiest when it is a found shoe rather than one that is purchased. One which has been worn by a horse is also luckier than one which has not. Of course it was much easier to find a horseshoe back in the days when the majority of folks were traveling by horse and buggy. Back then a horseshoe would tend to get tossed to the side of the road much more often than they do today. |
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