Does anyone know why a horseshoe is considered lucky and where it originated?

Question

Does anyone know why a horseshoe is considered lucky and where it originated?

Answer 1

Because the horseshoe is shaped like a U the horseshoe 'catches' your luck. but if its tipped upside down your luck will 'run out'

Answer 2

'cause it's lucky if you can find one.  

Answer 3

Horseshoes are considered a good luck charm in many cultures. The shape, fabrication, placement, and manner of sourcing are all important. A common tradition is that if a horseshoe is hung on a door with the two ends pointing up then good luck will occur. However, if the two ends point downwards then bad luck will occur. Traditions do differ on this point, though. In some cultures, the horseshoe is hung points down (so the luck pours onto you); in others, it is hung points up (so the luck doesn't fall out); still in others it doesn't matter so long as the horseshoe has been used (not new), was found (not purchased), and can be touched. In all traditions, luck is contained in the shoe and can pour out through the ends.

In some traditions, any good or bad luck achieved will only occur to the owner of the horseshoe, not the person who hangs it up. Therefore, if the horseshoe was stolen, borrowed or even just found then the owner, not the person who found or stole the horseshoe will get any good or bad luck. Other traditions require that the horseshoe be found to be effective.

One reputed origin of the tradition of lucky horseshoes is the story of Saint Dunstan and the Devil. Dunstan, who became the Archbishop of Canterbury in AD 959, was a blacksmith by trade. The story relates that he once nailed a horseshoe to the Devil's hoof when he was asked to reshoe the Devil's hoof. This caused the Devil great pain, and Dunstan only agreed to remove the shoe and release the Devil after the Devil promised never to enter a place where a horseshoe is hung over the door.

Some believe that if guests come to a house where a horseshoe is above the door, they must leave by the same door through which they entered or they will take the luck from the horseshoe with them from the house.

Another theory concerning the placing of horseshoes above doorways is to ward off Faeries (the Celtic kind); the theory being that Faeries are repelled by iron and as horseshoes were an easily available source of iron, they could be nailed above a door to prevent any unwanted, otherworldly guests. One can see how the custom, as people began to forget the stories concerning the Fair Folk, eventually morphed into a simple good luck charm.

Answer 4

You would have to travel back in to a period before man-kind had a common language I am talking about a time when what you drew on this ground will either get you killed or have you become accepted by the group of people surrounding you.... And the horse shoe design is a very ancient symbol.... For tribal member to recognizes each other and that is centuries before the horse shoe was invented..... The X, I, II, III, W, M.L, U were just some of the major symbols that were used And when women were really scarce..... Men stumbling into another man range met with instant death............ Because a women ment the difference between life and death of a entire tribe.........................

Answer 5

yes, in england and it was used with weddings and brides, horseshoe up retains luck and down allows it all to run out.