From horseshoes to four leaf clovers, many things are believed to bring good luck.
Across the world and throughout history, countless things have been believed to bring good luck, from four leaf clovers, horseshoes, and rabbit's feet to ladybugs, lucky coins, and the beckoning cat. Good luck superstitions are found in every culture, born from ancient beliefs, folklore, religion, and the universal human wish to attract fortune and ward off misfortune. Here are 15 of the most popular good luck superstitions and symbols from around the world, what each one means, and where the belief comes from, along with lucky customs and ways to invite more fortune into your life. Whether or not you believe in their power, these symbols carry rich meaning and a sense of hope, and many people keep them close to invite good luck.
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What good luck superstitions are
Good luck superstitions are beliefs that certain objects, symbols, actions, or signs can attract good fortune, ward off bad luck, or influence the flow of luck in one's favor. They are among the most universal of all human beliefs, found in every culture and every era, from the ancient world to the present day. The reasons for their enduring appeal are deeply human. Life is full of uncertainty, and much of what happens to us feels beyond our control; good luck superstitions offer a sense of hope, comfort, and a feeling of some influence over fortune, a way to invite good and guard against ill. Many lucky symbols and beliefs have ancient roots, arising from old religious beliefs, folklore, mythology, historical events, or the symbolic meaning of natural things. Over time, these beliefs were passed down, spread, and woven into daily life, becoming the familiar superstitions we know. It is worth noting that good luck superstitions vary between cultures, and a symbol lucky in one place may be unknown or even unlucky in another, which reflects their roots in particular histories and traditions. Whether or not one takes them literally, good luck superstitions carry rich cultural meaning and a sense of hope, and for many people, keeping a lucky charm, making a wish, or observing a lucky custom is a cherished and comforting practice. Many of these symbols also cross cultures, appearing in different forms in lands far apart, a testament to the shared human longing for fortune. Here are 15 of the most popular and beloved good luck symbols and superstitions from around the world.
15 good luck superstitions and symbols
1. The four leaf clover
One of the most famous lucky symbols of all, the four leaf clover is treasured for its rarity, making finding one a fortunate event in itself. Each of its four leaves is often said to represent something, such as faith, hope, love, and luck, and it carries old associations with protection and magic.
2. The horseshoe
A classic symbol of luck and protection, the horseshoe is hung in homes to guard against misfortune and hold in good luck. Its power is tied to ancient beliefs about the protective strength of iron and the luck of its crescent shape. Many hang it with the ends pointing up, so it holds the luck in like a cup.
3. The rabbit's foot
Long carried as a pocket charm for luck, the rabbit's foot draws on old folklore linking the rabbit to fertility, spring, and good fortune. It is one of the most traditional of all lucky charms, kept close to invite luck wherever one goes.
4. The ladybug
Widely considered a sign of good luck, a ladybug landing on you is often taken as a promise of coming fortune, and it is thought unlucky to harm one. In folklore, the ladybug is a gentle, beloved bringer of luck, and the number of its spots is sometimes given lucky meaning.
5. The lucky coin
Coins have long been kept as charms for wealth and fortune, especially found coins or coins from a meaningful year. As the old rhyme says, finding a penny and picking it up is thought to bring luck all day, particularly when it lands heads up.
6. The number seven
Considered lucky across many cultures, the number seven owes its fortunate reputation to its deep spiritual significance, appearing again and again in sacred and mystical contexts. It is one of the most widely recognized lucky numbers in the world, and triple sevens in particular are seen as an especially fortunate and spiritually charged sign.
7. The maneki-neko
The Japanese beckoning cat, with one paw raised as if waving fortune in, is a beloved symbol of luck and prosperity, especially in businesses. It is believed to draw in wealth, customers, and good fortune, and is a cheerful and popular lucky charm around the world.
8. The nazar, or evil eye amulet
The blue and white eye-shaped amulet, common across the Mediterranean and Middle East, wards off the evil eye and protects the wearer from ill fortune and envy. By guarding against bad luck, it is considered to invite and protect good fortune.
9. The elephant
In many cultures, the elephant is a symbol of luck, wisdom, and strength, and figures of elephants, especially with the trunk raised, are kept to invite good fortune. The elephant is also associated with the removal of obstacles and the bringing of prosperity.
10. The acorn
The humble acorn, seed of the mighty oak, is an old symbol of luck, protection, and growth. Carried as a charm, it was believed to bring good fortune and ward off harm, and it represents potential, strength, and the promise of great things from small beginnings. In old folklore, carrying an acorn was even said to preserve youthfulness and guard against illness and lightning.
11. The wishbone
The wishbone of a bird is broken between two people, each making a wish, and the one who gets the larger piece is said to have their wish granted. This charming custom has made the wishbone a lasting symbol of wishes and luck.
Lucky symbols are drawn from nature, folklore, and cultural tradition.
12. The hamsa hand
The hamsa, a hand-shaped amulet often bearing an eye, is used across many cultures for protection against the evil eye and to invite blessings, luck, and good fortune. It is a powerful and beautiful symbol of protection and blessing.
13. The color red
In many cultures, especially in China, the color red is strongly associated with luck, joy, and prosperity. Red is worn, displayed, and given at celebrations and the New Year to invite good fortune, making it one of the most auspicious of all lucky colors. Red envelopes containing money are given at the New Year and at celebrations to pass on good fortune, and red decorations are hung to invite luck and drive away misfortune.
14. The dreamcatcher
Originating in Native American tradition, the dreamcatcher is believed to catch bad dreams and let good ones through, and it has become a widely loved symbol of protection and positive fortune, hung to guard sleep and invite good energy.
15. The shooting star
Seeing a shooting star is one of the most magical of lucky signs, and making a wish upon one is a beloved custom the world over. The rare, fleeting beauty of a shooting star has made it a timeless symbol of wishes, hope, and good fortune, cherished across cultures and generations as a moment when the sky itself seems to offer a blessing.
Lucky actions and customs
Beyond objects and symbols, many good luck superstitions involve actions, customs, and things to do or avoid to invite fortune. One of the most familiar is knocking on wood, tapping wood after speaking of good fortune or a hope, to protect it and avoid tempting fate, a custom with old roots in beliefs about the spirits or power in trees. Crossing your fingers is a widespread gesture for luck and for wishing something to go well, thought to derive from old protective and religious symbolism. Making a wish is woven into many lucky customs: wishing on a shooting star, blowing out birthday candles, tossing a coin into a fountain or well, or wishing on the first star of the evening, all express the hope that a wish made at a lucky moment will come true. Some customs are about welcoming luck at special times, such as New Year traditions of eating certain foods, opening doors, or being mindful of who first enters the home, to invite a fortunate year. Others are about avoiding bad luck, the flip side of luck superstitions, such as not walking under ladders or taking care around broken mirrors, and throwing spilled salt over the left shoulder to undo misfortune. Many cultures have their own rich customs carried out at thresholds, before journeys, or at celebrations. What all these lucky actions share is the sense that, through a small gesture, wish, or custom, one can invite good fortune, honor hope, and feel a measure of connection to the flow of luck. Whether taken seriously or enjoyed as charming tradition, these customs are a delightful and deeply human part of the world's good luck lore, passed down through generations and woven into the fabric of daily life.
When luck keeps passing you by
Keeping a lucky charm, making a wish, and observing hopeful customs are cherished ways to invite fortune and honor the human hope for good luck, and holding a hopeful, open attitude genuinely helps you notice and welcome opportunity. What charms and customs alone cannot always do is clear a heavy block that keeps good fortune from reaching you no matter how many lucky symbols you keep. If you carry your charms, keep a hopeful heart, and do all you can, yet luck keeps passing you by, opportunities keep closing, and fortune seems blocked at every turn, that block sometimes needs clearing at its root. An old tie, something sent against you, or a heaviness settled over your fortune can sit beneath the reach of charms and good intentions and hold your luck blocked. When that is the case, clearing it at the root lifts the weight, and afterward good fortune, opportunity, and the luck you have been hoping for finally have an open road to reach you.
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Open the road →How to invite more luck into your life
Beyond keeping charms and observing customs, many believe there are ways to invite more good fortune into your life, blending the spirit of luck superstitions with a hopeful and open approach to living. The first is to cultivate a positive, open mindset. A hopeful, optimistic, expectant attitude genuinely helps you notice and seize the opportunities and good fortune that come your way, where a closed or gloomy outlook can cause you to miss them; in this sense, believing in your luck helps create it. The second is to stay open to opportunity and say yes. Much of what we call luck comes from being open to chances, meeting new people, trying new things, and being ready to act when fortune presents an opening; lucky people are often those who put themselves in the way of good fortune. The third is to keep symbols and reminders of luck if they inspire you, a charm, a lucky object, a hopeful ritual, not because the object alone works magic, but because it keeps your intention, hope, and positive focus alive. The fourth is to practice gratitude, appreciating the good fortune you already have, which fosters a positive, abundant outlook that welcomes more. The fifth is to take positive action toward your goals, for fortune favors those who pair hope with effort, opening the way and being ready to walk through it. And the sixth, for those spiritually inclined, is to clear away what blocks your luck and align yourself with good fortune through spiritual practice, prayer, or intention. Inviting luck, in this fuller sense, is less about any single charm and more about living with hope, openness, gratitude, and readiness, cultivating the inner and outer conditions in which good fortune can find you. Combined with the charms and customs you cherish, this open and hopeful way of living is perhaps the truest way to invite more luck into your life, uniting the wisdom of the old superstitions with a genuinely fortunate way of moving through the world.
Frequently asked questions
What things are believed to bring good luck?
Classic good luck symbols include four leaf clovers, horseshoes, rabbit's feet, ladybugs, lucky coins, the number seven, the maneki-neko cat, the nazar eye, elephants, acorns, wishbones, and the hamsa hand. Lucky customs include knocking on wood, crossing fingers, and making wishes.
Why is a four leaf clover lucky?
The four leaf clover is lucky largely because of its rarity, making finding one a fortunate event, and because of old associations with protection and magic. Each of its four leaves is often said to represent something, such as faith, hope, love, and luck.
Why do people hang horseshoes for luck?
The horseshoe is considered lucky and protective due to ancient beliefs about the power of iron and the luck of its crescent shape. Many hang it with the ends pointing upward, so it holds the luck in like a cup, though customs vary.
Do good luck superstitions really work?
Good luck superstitions carry cultural meaning and offer hope, comfort, and a sense of positive focus, which many find genuinely uplifting. Whether or not one believes in their literal power, keeping a charm or observing a custom can support a hopeful, open, fortunate mindset.
Are good luck symbols the same everywhere?
No, they vary between cultures. A symbol considered lucky in one place may be unknown or even unlucky in another, reflecting their roots in particular histories and traditions. Many symbols, though, like the four leaf clover and horseshoe, are widely recognized.
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