Why Horseshoes are said to bring Good Luck

You have probably met someone with a horseshoe hung above an entryway at their house, and that it's all about good luck! You may not know that the traditions origin dates all the way back to 959 A.D........

The lucky horseshoe is a big part of Irish folklore and history. The story of Dunstan and the horseshoe varies greatly depending on your source. But the gist of the story is that in the 10th century, St. Dunstan (a blacksmith at the time) was visited by the devil himself. The hoofed devil asked for a horseshoe for himself. So then, Dunstan nailed a red hot horseshoe tightly on one of his hooves, and the devil howled in pain. The devil begged for Dunstan to remove it. Dunstan agreed under one condition — the devil must respect the horseshoe and never enter any place where one was hung above the door.

Because of this, people believed that the horseshoe could keep evil out of their homes, and thus bring in (or keep in) good luck.

You may also notice that most horseshoes have seven nails in them. Seven has always been referred to as a lucky number.

In the middle ages, it was said that witches were afraid of horses and their iron shoes. People thought that witches would never pass through a doorway with one hung above it, and some even nailed horseshoes to witch’s coffins to keep them from coming out.

Hanging a horseshoe facing upwards in a “U” shape is said to keep evil out and bring good luck into your home. Conversely, hanging an upside down one will have luck flowing out of your home.

Whether you believe the legend or not, you have to admit, a horseshoe hanging above a door makes for wonderful decor.