Today is St. Patrick’s Day, a celebration of red beards, the color green, and Guinness beer (mostly kidding). 

St. Patrick’s Day originated in the mid-17th century, according to Lifehacker, as a religious holiday, but has grown to encapsulate more than that. Around the world, St. Patrick’s Day is the most popular national holiday — celebrated in places as far removed as the United States, Argentina, Russia, and parts of Asia. 

But, contrary to popular belief, the holiday doesn’t really have all that much to do with luck, or, for that matter, four-leafed clovers. 

What St. Patrick’s Day does take as its symbol is not the four-leafed clover but the shamrock — just your everyday three-leafed clover that St. Patrick used to describe the Christian idea of the father, son, and holy ghost to the Irish. 

Read more: 6 Irish Heroes to Remember This St. Patrick’s Day

The four-leafed clover is considered lucky purely because it’s an anomaly in nature, though it does have deep Christian ties. But for many cultures, looking to amulets, animals, and accessories for good luck has provided hope in bleak times. 

The diversity of good luck symbols around the world springs from different cultural traditions and even physical climates. Often, the things that are considered lucky can tell interesting stories of development and reveal deep histories of colonization and combat. 

Most often, good luck charms have, over the years, represented renewal and protection, more than pure, dumb luck. 

Here are 11 powerful symbols from around the world.  

1. Four-leafed clovers - Ireland 

Only occurring about 1 in 10,000 times in nature, a four-leafed clover is certainly a biologically rare occurrence. The origin of the four-leafed clover as good luck is thought to go back to a legend surrounding the biblical story of Adam and Eve. Upon being banished from paradise for eating the forbidden fruit of knowledge, according to a Christian legend, Eve — one of the world’s first radical feminists, probably (“She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.”) — brought with her a four-leafed clover from the garden. 

In the Middle Ages, four-leafed clovers were believed to give people the ability to see fairies, which is pretty cool, too. 

2. Elephants - India 

In Hindu cultures, the elephant is thought to be a purveyor of good luck. The mythology of the elephant ties into several stories surrounding various Hindu gods and goddesses — from Ganesh to Indra. 

The elephant, one of the smartest mammals, also happens to be one of the more endangered species. Only around 300,000 elephants were alive in 2016, a decline of 30% from 2007. 

3. Three keys - Japan 

In Japan, you can wear three keys in the hopes of unlocking health, wealth and love. But choose wisely because according to legend, wearing only one of the three will indicate which door you wish to unlock.

4. Scarabs - Egypt 

For ancient Egyptians, the scarab beetle — actually a type of dung beetle — represented the idea of regeneration. It represented Ra, the Egyptian Sun God, who created himself out of nothing. 

5. Wooden horses - Sweden 

The iconic Dalecarlian horse comes from the region of Dala, Sweden. Originally A children’s toy in the 17th century, the horse figurine represented an important source of income to traveling salesman who would sell the carved horses to support their families. 

6. Dolls - Guatemala 

Another hand-crafted artisanal piece, Guatemalan “worry dolls” used to be placed under the pillows of worriers to bring about better sleep. 

7. Tumi knives - Peru 

In Peru, the indigenous Inca tribes used to use a ceremonial “Tumi” knife to sacrifice a black llama to the gods for good luck. The internal organs of the animal were thought to predict the future. Many people still have Tumi knives in their homes to bring about good luck.  

8. Dreamcatchers - Native Americans 

Similar to the “worry doll,” dreamcatchers are an old-fashioned sleep aid, designed by Ojibwe tribes to catch bad dreams and let through the good ones. During the pan-Indian movement in the mid 20th century, non-Ojibwe tribes began to adapt the tradition, as well. 

9.  Eggs - Ukraine

The Ukrainian Easter egg was thought to bring about a good harvest, and would be painted with decorative colors and designs, a tradition that remains today. The symbolism of the egg traces back to the very origins of life, which begins with the fertilization of eggs.  

10. Acorns - Scandinavia

Placing an acorn on a windowsill, according to Norse tradition, would ward away lightening and protect one’s home. A sign of spring and renewal, the acorn also brought about good luck, prosperity, youthfulness and power. 

11. Vulture heads - South Africa 

The jury is still out on the validity of this one, but according to Scientific American, gamblers in South Africa would smoke tobacco that contained dried vulture brains to bring about good luck. If true, this practice would be harmful to a critically-endangered population of birds. 

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11 Good Luck Charms from Around the World to Enjoy on St. Patrick's Day

By Phineas Rueckert