“Luck is probability taken personally,” say most mathematicians, scientists and skeptics, but to some, luck is what gets them by and can be brought on by anything. If asked what their favourite or lucky number is, most people will choose between three, seven, and thirteen, and this is of interest because all of those are prime numbers, and anyone can tell you that prime numbers have one undeniable quality in common. They don’t let anyone come between them and their man, number one.
All jokes aside, whole cultures have embraced luck, and sources of luck, in many different forms. The number three shows up in good things all over the place, from the Trinity to Pagan rituals and prayers. Seven has even surfaced commonly in lottery games, and a few of my friends think today will be lucky since it’s the seventh day of the seventh month of the year two-thousand-seven. Thirteen is perceived as unlucky by the masses, but embraced by the outcasts as their saving grace. Generally characterised by better-than-good fortune, luck can seemingly be brought on by prayer, voodoo, hoodoo, sacrifices, or spells. Wishing someone luck before an event has become more of a motion than a statement, coming as a reaction, like ‘thank you’ or ‘I’m sorry.’ It can also be carried in objects.
But aren’t there lucky colours?
All Good Things Come in … Greens?
Especially if found by accident, a four-leaf clover, a rarity among clovers, is said to bring good luck to its finder. The Irish will tell you that these green ones are rarities, one-in-ten-thousand according to estimations. According to legend, each leaflet of the clover represents something. The first leaflet is for hope, the second is for faith, the third is for love, and that elusive fourth one is for luck. The Shamrock, badge of Ireland, was used originally for its medical purposes, but has been revered as a symbol of good luck for some time. To be “in clover,” rolling or not, means something of living in ease, comfort, or prosperity. Growing a money tree, green being the operative colour symbol, originally was thought to bring good fortune. Green, overall, seems to be the go-to colour for luck.
| Bamboo is also grown in jars or pots in Chinese culture to bring luck into the home. It can also be said that carvings in jade, a common material choice of early Chinese art, can bring good luck. Jade is more commonly thought of as a emerald green, but can also be blue, lavender, pink, and white. In Chinese culture, the green stone is seen as having protective properties against evil spirits and the afamed bad luck. |  |
All that Glitters is Gold
It seems like everyone that sees a fountain is compelled to throw their money into it. On a clear, sunny day, the bottom of the fountain glitters gold with pennies. Even children gladly throw pennies into fountains within the tradition of tossing a coin and making a wish. And I’m completely certain that nearly every wish is for something positive. If not, that’s a lot of pennies for bad karma. Pennies, derived from pence, are also good luck when found face up on the ground. Though actually predominantly copper, pennies, when shined, have that warm yellow, brassy look to them.
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Gold is a symbol of wealth and avarice, and also greed because of the hoarding it seems to take to accumulate said wealth. By association, wearing gold, or keeping gold around is said to bring good luck and fortune. Maneki Neko, or “The Beckoning Cat,” is a commonplace Japanese sculpture thought to bring its owner good luck. Seen in stores counters that don’t even necessarily sell the nekos, on keychains, in homes, and even as air fresheners, it seems like this gold coin-cradling cat had waved its way into many hopeful hands. A raised right paw supposedly attracts money while a left brings in customers. |
Inadvertently, white has become a well-wishing, good luck colour, between being commonly the colour of lucky rabbit’s feet and wedding day colours. Throwing white rice as the bride and groom surfaced from the doors of a church has been seen as spreading good luck to them, but not so lucky for the birds who eat the rice afterwards. White is the colour of all things innocent and pure, all things good, present or yet to arrive. If, perchance, you spill salt, throwing it over your shoulder will under the bad luck coming your way.
What’s your good luck colour?
Do you keep something around for good luck
Do you have any traditions to bring good luck?
What other colours do you know about that are said to bring luck?
