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What's Luck Got To Do With It? Luck Around the Globe

WHAT'S LUCK SOT Every culture around the world has its own traditions for good luck. While a lucky penny or four-leaf clover may be commonplace to some, other people might look instead to a pig or an acorn for good fortune. Want to know more about the history of different lucky GOT superstitions, symbols, phrases, and people around the globe? Look below! To read more about each fact, find the matching icon underneath the map to see a description. Bonne chance! TO DO WITH IT? LUCK AROUND THE GLOBE. "Je te dis merde" "Schwein gehabt!" "Udachil" Ajunngigarutie "In bocca al lupo!" "Ganbatte "Bonne Chance!" Buena Suerte!" "Kila la kheri!" LUCKY CHARMS & SYMBOLS LUCKY INDIVIDUALS IRELAND THE LAUGHING BUDDHA A Chinese folklore deity. (Rub a statue's belly for good luck!) The four-leaf clover became a good luck charm in Pagan Ireland. Legend states that St. Patrick used the three-leaved clover to explain the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit); when the fourth leaf was present, that represented the grace of God. FORTUNA Roman goddess of luck. (AKA, Tyche, Greek goddess of luck.) JAPAN The luck cat, Maneki Neko, beckons good luck and fortune into your home or workplace with its waving paw. AMAETHON GERMANY Old decks of cards featured a pig on the ace, which led to "die sau" being considered lucky. Celtic goddess of luck. SHICHIFUKUJIN The Seven Lucky Gods in Japanese folklore, ENGLAND The horseshoe origin legend is: a blacksmith was approached by the devil to put horseshoes on his hooves. After he did, the devil was in pain and wanted them removed. The blacksmith did, but only after the devil promised that he would never go into a house that had a horseshoe displayed above the door. LAKSHMI Hindu goddess of prosperity. CHINA The Mystic Knot is used in Chinese feng shui. The knot is created by tying together six infinity knots, and it represents never-ending good luck. (Place in the southwest or southeast area of your house for the best results.) ST. CHRISTOPHER Patron saint of travellers. (Often used as a lucky charm in cars.) NORWAY Acorns have been considered good luck in Norse mythology, since the days of the Vikings. Since lightning, which was associated with Thor, was drawn to oak trees, the Norse believed that he favoured acorns, which grew on the trees. They would place the acorns on their window sills as good luck against lightning. POPE SAINT JOHN PAUL II Patron saint of soccer. (Often prayed to in Argentina.) AUSTRALIA It's said that the Aborigines in Australia saw frogs as an indicator of good luck for crops; the animal was said to help plant growth, by bringing in storms and rain. FALKOR The luckdragon from The Neverending Story. WORLDWIDE The ladybug is a symbol of good luck in many cultures of the world; in France, a ladybug is said to bring good weather for grapes; in Sweden, a ladybug bring good luck in love if it lands on a girl's hand; in Germany, a ladybug with 7 spots signifies good luck in the upcoming harvest. LUCKY ACTIONS & SUPERSTITIONS LUCKY PHRASES SPAIN At midnight on New Year's Eve, the Spanish eat 12 grapes, which symbolizes good luck for each month in the upcoming year. "Schwein gehabt!" GERMANY - This idiom translates to "I had a pig!" Pigs are known to be lucky in Germany. "Je te dis merde!" RUSSIA Consider yourself lucky if a bird poops on you in Russia! They believe that that is a sign of good luck to come. (Or a shower.) FRANCE - This phrase in French translates to a less-than-sweet sounding "I wish you s*@#!" It's the equivalent of the theatrical "break a leg!" "Ganbatte Kudasai!" JAPAN - In Japanese, this is the polite way to say "do your best." ROME The sign of crossing your fingers for good luck dates back to early Christianity, where people used this hand gesture to summon the protection of the cross. "¡Buena Suerte!" SPANISH - A straightforward "good luck!" in Spanish. NORTHERN EUROPE Knocking on wood is an action in many cultures to protect from bad luck, but is said to have originated in Germanic folklore. Knocking on wood was thought to summon dryads, or tree nymphs, who would bring good luck. "In bocca al lupo!" ITALY - This literally translates to "into the wolf's mouth" and is another example of a "break a leg"-type saying. The response is "crepi lupo," which means "may the wolf die." "Kila la kheri!" AFRICA (SWAHILI) - This is a nice way to wish your friends all the best! VICTORIAN ERA EUROPE The tradition of a bride putting a penny in her shoe on her wedding date dates back to the Victorian era and is said to bring the couple good luck in prosperity! "Udachi!" RUSSIA - Here's a casual way to wish your family and friends luck in Russia. CHINA Insulting your baby doesn't seem like it would be good luck, but it is superstition in China! Tradition says that by calling your child mean names, evil spirits would be tricked into thinking it wasn't a baby, and leave it alone. "Ajunngigiarlutit!" INUIT (ALASKA) - This daunting phrase is the Inuit way to say "good luck!" to your friends in the frigid North. DENMARK It's considered good luck to save up all your broken dishes throughout the year and throw them at your friend's homes on New Year's Eve. The more broken pieces, the better year you will have! "Bonne Chance!" QUEBEC - While the true French in Europe may have a less-than-nice way to wish luck (see "Je te dis merde"), Canadians are known for their polite nature. This phrase is the straightforward translation of "good luck" in French. FUN DESIGNED BY: KATE LEMKE EDITED BY: MADONNA SHEEHY

What's Luck Got To Do With It? Luck Around the Globe

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With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, what do you really know about 'luck'? Sure, you have your lucky rabbit's foot and lucky four leaf clover set aside, but have you ever saved broken dishe...

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