 |  Nature ~ symbolic Good Luck in trees, flowers and food itemsBelow resources about trees, flowers, food items ~which according to legends and myths are symbolic of Good Luck~ have been collected from books and other sources. No claims are made.
ACORN
Long before they began exploring the world in their longboats, the Vikings associated oak trees with Thor, the god who created thunder and lightning with his great anvil and hammer. Because the tree attracted lightning, they believed it was sacred to Thor. But they also believed that the acorn, the fruit of the tree, was always spared the god’s wrath, and so they began putting acorns on window sills to protect their houses. When the Vikings began roaming, one of their first stops was the British Isles, and they may have been quite surprised to discover that the mysterious Druids there also put great store in the luck of the acorn. But theirs was a different kind of luck. The Druids worshiped the oak as a symbol of strength and long life and wore acorns around their necks as amulets to bring that strength to themselves. In modern times, acorns, either real or wooden imitations, are often placed near windows or hung from window-shade pulls to bring luck to the house.
ALMOND
There isn’t a tree that grows that doesn’t have some significance in the world of luck. Among them, the almond has the power to attract undying love. The tradition goes back to the Greek legend of Demophon and Phyllis. According to the tale, Demophon, a soldier, promised to marry Phyllis, a princess, but showed up for the ceremony several months late. By the time he arrived, the poor princess, thinking she was rejected, had hanged herself. But the gods were moved and turned Phyllis into an almond tree. When Demophon offered a sacrifice to the tree it blossomed on the spot, even though no other tree in sight had produced any flowers. In many parts of the world, the almond is the first tree to bloom in spring. But because its blossoms are often blighted by cold, the symbolism of the tree’s fruit sometimes refers to the impetuousness of youth. Combined with undying affection, on the other hand, an almond as a lucky charm can bring the sweetness of young love with an assurance that it will last.
APPLE
In the Islamic world, there is an old tradition that apples have the power to cure almost any ill. In the Western world we say that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But apples can do much more than cure what ails you. In many parts of America, they can help you discover if you’ll be lucky in love, especially at Halloween. One tradition says that if you twist the stem of an apple, assigning a letter of the alphabet to each turn, the stem will break off when you have reached the initial of someone who loves you. Another says that if you peel an apple and toss the skin over your left shoulder, it will land in the form of the initial of your true love. Old Norse legends say that the gods secured eternal youth by eating apples. The Greeks also believed the fruit guaranteed long life. In fact, one of the only times you will ever hear anything negative about the apple is in the story of Adam and Eve. Yet, the Bible never said it was an apple at all. That came much later. According to Genesis, Eve picked the fruit of an unidentified tree in the midst of the garden. The serpent implied it was the tree of knowledge and among ancient people interpreting the story, that could only mean one thing: an apple tree. Although apples have been regarded as symbols of temptation ever since, they are still believed to have the power to bring luck, long life, and knowledge.
BASIL
In central Europe until a few generations ago, young girls wore sprigs of basil on their chests as a sign that they were virgins. Tradition had it that the basil would wither it a girl was not as advertised. On the other hand, it was also common for married women to wear basil in their hair as a means of perpetuating the love of their husbands. In Elizabethan England, the herb served as a lucky charm for bachelors looking for a wife. It was customary for these swains to carry basil leaves in their pockets when courting because they were believed to attract sympathy. But if they should inadvertently pull the herb from their pocket in the presence of their love, it would attract scorn instead. In Africa, basil is widely used to ward off bad spells and to cure traumatic shock. Some African people also carry basil as an antidote for scorpion bites. A form of basil called tulashi was imported to America in the 1960s by the Hindu-inspired group known as “hare Krishnas.” This close relative of basil, common to India, is believed to bring luck to devotees of the sect. Sprigs of tulashi are kept in their homes on velvet cushions, and gifts of flowers and incense are presented to it every day to acknowledge the herb’s luck-bringing qualities.
BEAN
Ancient tombs the world over have contained beans, either real or as representations, because they were believed to contain the basic spark of life. The belief stems from the observation that beans kept in the dark for years will sprout when they are brought back into the sun. The Egyptians believed that beans were a symbol of immortality. The Romans thought they had the power to repel ghosts. In medieval Europe, beans were worn to repel witches. In the southern United States, it is customary to eat black-eyed peas for luck on New Year’s Eve. In many parts of Europe, a bean or a dried pea is baked inside a Christmas cake and the person who finds it in their piece can look forward to good luck all year long.
CHAMPAGNE
This wine if often used in rituals to ensure good luck on a voyage or in the initial stages of a new endeavor. Champagne is considered a very lucky wine that is used in the celebrations of childbirth, baptism, marriage, and the launching of a ship. Today the champagne bottle smashed against the side of a ship as it sets sail on its maiden voyage is a substitution for the earlier tradition of making a human or animal sacrifice to appease the sea gods. Also, the name that the ship is given during the champagne christening must never be changed or it will bring extremely bad luck.
CHERRY TREE
It is very good luck to have a cherry tree shading your house -which is probably why George Washington's father was so upset when the young future president took an ace to one. It is also said that lovers who meet for the first time under a cherry tree will be very lucky together. Charms in the shape of charries are considered a lucky gift from a close friend.
CHESTNUT
Carrying a chestnut in your pocket will not only bring you luck, but in many parts of the world it is believed that it can cure a headache, get rid of a backache, and bring relief from chest pains.
CHILI-CORNOS
In Italy and among Italian-Americans, a charm in the shape of a horn, known as a corno, is frequently worn as a powerful bringer of luck. Although associated with good luck in general, it was originally intended as a means of protection against the evil eye. Mounted on a wall, horns can protect and bring luck to a place of business or a home. But the most common cornos are those that are worn as a necklace or carried as a pocket piece. After bright red chilies were introduced to Europe from South America in the 16th century, people noticed that they closely resembled the shape of cornos and began using chilies as a substitute. This was especially true in Italy, where natural horns were not always easy to find. In our time, these so-called chili-cornos are commonly made of plastic and carried as lucky charms. Sometimes, embellished with the crest of an Italian city, the bright red, stubby-pointed charms are carried as watch fobs or key chains. They also turn up hanging over rear-view mirrors of cars as a way of bringing luck to the driver. Many truck drivers sport these charms because they believe they will ensure their safety while driving. The plastic chili-cornos are also frequently seen in casinos, where they are among the most popular lucky charms for gamblers.
COAL
In some parts of the world, it is considered quite lucky to find a piece of coal in the street, or to be given one by a friend. In Northern England, it is customary to place little piles of coal on doorsteps on the last day of the year. Each person who enters the house on New Year's Eve picks up one of the lumps and carries it inside to bring good luck to the household.
COTTONWOOD TREE
Among the Sioux Indians of the Great Plains, the cottonwood tree, which they call the “sacred rustling tree,” is one of the earthly representations of Wakan-Taka, the Great Spirit. As such, it has the power to bring luck to people who treat it with the proper respect. The tree is used in many tribal ceremonies and when one is cut down to be used in a ritual, great care is taken to keep it from touching the ground before it can be erected in the ceremonial place.
DAISY
Little girls everywhere pull away the petals of daisies, reciting "he loves me, he loves me not" with each one. The luckiest of them has chosen a daisy with an odd number of petals so that the last one will be an affirmation of love. Gypsies believe that a girl can recover an absent lover by sleeping with daisy root under her pillow.
EGG
Our ancestors regarded the egg as a symbol of eternity, and the early Christians saw it as a sign of resurrection. In many cultures it is customary to give an egg to a new mother to bring good luck to her and to her child. In England, a gift of a white egg is considered generally lucky, but a brown egg, they say, will not only bring luck but happiness.
HOLLY
Although it is one of the most enduring symbols of Christmas, holly was the gift of good luck among the Romans celebrating their midwinter festivals. The northern tribes, who eventually brought about Rome's downfall, draped holly over doorways as shelter for friendly woodland spirits who could bring good luck to their houses. In medieval Europe, it was planted under windows because people believed it repelled witches. Sprigs of holly in the house at Christmastime will bring good luck. But it must not be brought indoors before Christmas Eve of your family will fall to squabbling. And be sure to burn it on the 12th Night (January 5) or the good luck will turn sour.
MISTLETOE
Stand under a sprig of mistletoe and you are sure to get kissed. If that in itself isn't a sign of good luck, consider its deeper meaning. According to a Viking legend, after Baldur, the son of the gooddess Friga, died and was restored to life, her tears of gratitude turned into the white berries of the mistletoe. A sprig of mistletoe used as a dart is what killed Baldur in the first place, and when he was resurrected, his mother proclaimed that the plant was now sacred to her and would never again be used for evil purpose. Friga was the Norse goddess of love, and from that moment to this, anyone kissed under mistletoe falls under her special protection.
OAK
In New York City’s Grand Central railroad station, many of the doorways are lavishly decorated with representations of oak branches. The same design also appears quite frequently in the architecture of the Italian Renaissance. And oak leaf clusters are used to add importance to military medals. In every case, the significance comes from the ancient Romans, who thought of the oak as a symbol of strength and believed that oak branches, either real or representations of them, would bring them luck in the form of strength. The oak branches at Grand Central conveyed a wish to cross-country train passengers that they would find the strength to cope with the long journey. The patrons of the Renaissance believed that the strength of the oak would serve them in their often difficult climb to the top of society. The ancients of northern Europe believed that oaks attracted lightning, and although that in itself wasn’t a good thing, it also meant to them that the tree absorbed the power of the gods. They, as well as the Druids in Britain, worshiped the oak – but usually from a respectful distance.
PETRIFIED WOOD
Ancient trees that were submerged in water, dissolved, and replaced by the minerals from the water, are today called petrified wood. Petrified wood is another from of fossil since it was once living and the fossil itself is simply the remaining imprint of the dissolved tree. Petrified wood contributes to increased longevity and aids in healing and protection. Since petrified wood is very ancient and contains such an element of the past, it is often used to promote the individual’s appreciation of life. It is also said to help individuals realize their own potential to evolve intellectually. Because of its connection with water, petrified wood is often a charm to protect against drowning. Also, because of the peculiar hardness of petrified wood, it is thought to be particularly adept at giving protection to its bearer. Someone in search of a way to become a more positive individual should try wearing or carrying an amulet of petrified wood since one of its main abilities is that of averting negativity.
SALT
Of course you know it is bad luck to spill salt, and that if you do, you should immediately toss the spilled grains over your left shoulder. The tradition goes deep into antiquity. Even in prehistoric times, salt was considered the staff of life. Because the ancients noticed that salt doesn’t change its basic properties when combined with other elements, they thought of it as a symbol of immortality. Over the centuries, various customs and beliefs regarding salt have emerged. In ancient Rome, a newborn baby was welcomed into the world by having a bit of salt placed in its mouth to bring it luck and long life. In the Middle Ages, the dead were buried with salt sprinkled over their hearts in the hope of an afterlife. The Romans and the Greeks before them always added salt to sacrificial food and tossed it into their sacrificial fires. The considered it an affront to the gods if any salt should touch the ground. That explains our modern aversion to spilled salt, but it also provides a clue to a basic belief about all lucky charms: Any charm, amulet, or talisman intended to bring good luck will lose its power it it is allowed to touch the ground.
VISUALIZATION
You may be your own most powerful source of good luck. If you wish to attract love into your life, all you may need is a bit of creative visulization. Find a place -surrounded by nature- where you are likely to remain undisturbed. Close your eyes, relax and imagine yourself in a warm and loving relationship. The partner you see in this image may not have a face - that is for the fates to provide. But as you sit quietly, let the warmth and pleasure you experience from your visualization permeate your being.
YARROW
A plant with fern-like leaves and white flowers, native to Eurasia, but naturalized in western Europe and North America, yarrow was known to the ancients as the herb of Venus. Although its branches and flowers were believed to bring luck in love, the plant has other properties that make it valuable to grow. The ancient Greeks used it to promote nosebleeds, which they thought brought fast relief to migraine headaches. In Ireland, yarrow is a powerful protector against the wiles of one's enemies. An early Christian tradition holds that yarrow was the first herb touched by Jesus after his birth, which gives the plant the power to avert evil spells. |
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