The magic of the lucky horseshoe symbol – what is its meaning?
SEE lucky Horseshoes in our online SHOP :
Horseshoes are probably the most commonly recognised good luck charm or talisman in the Western World – millions of people think that they are lucky, and that the horseshoe symbol is a magically protective amulet or talisman. For this reason, they make a popular gift for a friend or relative and for all sorts of events: The happy couple at a wedding for example (or engagement), the bride or groom, best man or usher; or a colleague in retirement from work, someone moving to a new house, the arrival of a new baby (or at a baby shower) or someone entering a competition, a driving test or other exam. Horseshoe charms are commonly found in jewellery worn as earrings, bracelets and pendants on necklaces, and gifted as good luck charms or talismans to hang on the wall of a house. They are thought to possess some sort of magic. But why?
Since earliest times, man has believed that the crescent or U-shape or symbol was a powerful protective talisman. For the Greeks, it symbolised the crescent moon which was regarded as a symbol of fertility, with links to Moon goddesses such as Artemis and Diana. They were also used to ward off the mischievous celtic fairies.
In one story, St. Dunstan, the favourite saint of the English people, nailed a horseshoe to a horse when he was working as a blacksmith. The horse was actually the Devil in disguise and it caused the Devil great pain. Dunstan only agreed to remove the shoe and release the Devil after he promised never to enter a place with a horseshoe.
The combination of luck, protection, religion, and magic are all captivated by the horseshoe symbol and many people believe it will bring them good luck in the lives and to any special events or occasions – and ward off evil and misfortune / bad luck. In the past, superstition dictated that sailors nailed a horseshoe to the mast of their ship to help their vessel avoid bad weather, storms and disaster. And nowadays, gifting a magic lucky horseshoe charm for a wedding is common.
Should a good luck horseshoe be mounted open end up or down?
“Up” to stop luck running out – “Down” to pour luck onto you. It doesn’t matter, it’s the thought and effect of the charm that matters – the belief in the magic. See our Lucky Charms guide for why this is so.
A good luck horseshoe for a wedding? Lucky Horseshoes are ideal gifts on Wedding Days (for the Guests, Ushers, Bridesmaids, etc) and for friends or loved-ones who are in a Competition, which they can carry as a talisman to give them more confidence in these stressful events like an Exam or a Driving Test.
SHIPPING - Contact
We are now shipping all orders from our UK base. This means excellent shipping times to UK addresses . . and to the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand too, although slower times to Spain and the rest of the EU.
Here is our general Shipping policy:
SHIPPING
Shipping Costs vary from only 1.95 upwards, depending on your location and purchase. FREE SHIPPING is sometimes available on larger orders. All Shipping Options will be visible in your shopping bag/cart when you have added an approximate location or address.
Shipping Method: We ship the first working day after you order. We can ship either Normal Post, or Tracked (which, in some countries, requires a signature on delivery - in which case, if you are not at home, it will be taken to your local Post Office to await your collection).
Shipping Times: We try our hardest to get your order to you as soon as possible - within the limits of reasonable shipping costs. Delivery times vary depending on location. For example: UK: 2 to 3 days (although we offer a "Guaranteed 2 work-days max" Option too). USA, Australia, NZ, Canada, etc and the rest of the world: 1 to 2 weeks. However: EU countries in Europe: 2-3 weeks (see below**)
**Shipping to EU country/address? The European Union may charge VAT on delivery: This can slow Customs and delay shipping time. Obviously this does NOT apply (and there is NO Value Added Tax nor delays) if you are sending to NON-EU countries like UK, USA, Australia, etc.
GIFT-WRAP and PERSONALISATION
All items are gift-wrapped, and you can write a personal message which we will print on a Gift Card. We can ship direct to you, or to 3rd-parties (ie: direct to friends and loved-ones as a special gift). This is all INCLUDED in the price. We NEVER include a copy of the bill with the shipped gift.
PAYMENT
Our Payment Merchants are PayPal, and Stripe for Visa and MasterCard, etc. It is NOT necessary to Register / Create an Account with us, NOR to Sign In, to buy anything in our shop.
RETURNS
We stand behind our products 100%. If at any time you are not happy with anything, we'll refund your payment IN FULL - no questions asked. Just re-package the item as received and send it back. You will be responsible for paying the return shipping costs, unless the original item was faulty. Please Contact Us for a Returns Number and use a trackable shipping service to guarantee that we receive your returned item, and tell us the details. We will send you an email to notify you about your refund.
CONTACT
UK: PO Box 2, WINCANTON, BA9 9LD
ESPAÑA: 412, AC de Correos, 04630 GARRUCHA, Almería
Email: sales[!at]thegoodluckgiftshop.com
Tel: 00447933717632 (UK) ; 0034618584704 (España)
