Human beings have always been a superstitious bunch and, throughout history, have adopted symbols and talismans to protect ourselves from evil and a whole host of other ills. Probably the most common use for those charms and trinkets though, was to bring us luck, to turn the tides in our favor with the power of a single, simple talisman, albeit combined with a healthy dose of faith.
Each of these symbols has its own unique story, usually attributed to a particular cultural way of life; in Africa it was lucky to carry an animal’s foot, which is where the rabbit’s foot charm of today originated. The four leaf clover charm came from Ireland and was adopted by followers of St. Patrick who, as legend would have it, drove all the snakes out of the country. Oftentimes these talismans have been associated with strength and power, which is probably why certain good luck charms remain popular with men to this day.
4 Leaf Clover Cufflinks with Gift Box
The shamrock, or four leaf clover, has maintained its popularity among males, most likely because of the belief that fame and wealth are attached to the leaf. Perhaps though, the more romantic of the male species are drawn to the myth that the clover is a harbinger of love, and that by placing the leaf inside a woman’s shoe, guarantees that she will be his.
The job of blacksmith was one that was traditionally always done by men, and it is perhaps why the horseshoe still holds sway over men. Originally believed to be used as a protector against the “evil eye”, the horseshoe has been used, prongs up, to collect luck, and prongs down to spread luck over the area where it rests. This is why you will still see horseshoes with the prongs down, hung over house doorways.
The horn is a charm that is regularly found on men’s jewelry; like the horseshoe, the horn was thought to be protection from the “evil eye”, which would allow men to maintain their virility and sexual prowess. No surprise then that it is such a popular good luck charm for the gents.
While most of those charms date back thousands of years, there is a modern charm that has been adopted by men for luck and safe keeping. A large influx of Irish Catholics to the US meant that a fresh batch of police officers were of Celtic descent and those cops chose to hang a St. Jude medal on their callbox keys, a tradition that continues to this day.
Other popular luck charms for men include motifs that are believed to provide financial success. One of these luck charms comes from the world of the Kabbalah. The Seal of Solomon, associated with the great king of Israel is used to enhance positive energies in life such as Love and Success.
Many men worldwide may scoff at the use of charms for luck, but it doesn’t seem to stop them from wearing ties, socks and other articles of clothing that bear these symbols, or prevent them from bending down to pick up a four leaf clover if they see one. As ridiculous as the thought of a lucky charm may seem, it is a traditions that has stood the test of time and, judging by sales of talismanic totems, seems unlikely to end any time soon.
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