Horseshoes and Rabbit Feet Trivia Quiz

Answer: Breath of life

In carvings still in existence on ancient constructions in Egypt, the ankh is often shown in this manner. This is because it was believed to endow anyone passing into the afterlife with the necessary breath of life to exist there.

Answer: Paradise

This symbol was once considered lucky in ancient Egypt as well, and spread from there to other Middle Eastern lands. With the birth of the Islamic faith, it evolved to have an especial significance. It was also believed the crescent endowed good fortune on mothers and small children.

Answer: Fist

The fingers had to be curled over the top of the thumb for this to work most effectively. A similar amulet they wore had the index finger stretched forward. This was thought to ward off the influence of bad luck or danger.

Interestingly, Muslims countries also believed the hand symbol meant good luck. The hand was wide open however. The first finger portrayed Muhammad, the second finger was his favourite daughter Fatima, and the remaining fingers were her husband and two sons. Fatima was believed to be one of only three women considered suitable enough to go to heaven. Hmmm.

Answer: Key

It was thought that the key unlocked the door through which the petitions passed. The keys were especially lucky if they were made of silver. This was the metal associated with the goddess Diana. Her role was that of a protector of doorways, thresholds and expecting mothers.

In Japan, if three keys are tied together, this is considered to bring health, wealth and love to anyone who wears them. European gypsies believed an inverted key over the bed warded off bad dreams.

Answer: Seven

The number seven has had a long association with the virtuous and self-sacrificing life. It is the number of the lamps in the temple of the Old Testament, the five loaves and two fish with which Jesus fed the faithful, and the seven wise and equally foolish virgins. Early Christians once taught that the faithful were endowed with seven gifts from God. These were wisdom, intelligence, honour, blessings, glory, strength and holiness. The number seven crops up many, many times throughout the Bible. It appears to have great significance on many levels.

Seven is also associated with the Japanese gods of fortune. It was also believed that the seventh son of a seventh son, and the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, were given special gifts. Hopefully their mothers were given special gifts as well.

Answer: Eve

Nothing like having a bit of foresight. Eve, they said, believed good luck would be needed for the uncertain future which lay ahead. It was this early legend in Europe that has witnessed the long association between the four-leafed clover and good fortune ever since.

Finding a four-leafed clover is a hard feat to achieve. Finding one with more than four leaves is even more so. The record for that was in 2009 when a clover with an amazing fifty-six leaves was discovered! The lucky finder was a farmer in Japan. Mr Shigeo Obara actually cultivates clover for this purpose. He also developed one with eighteen leaves.

The normal clover contains three leaves, and this has long been associated with Christianity's Holy Trinity. The three leaves also represent faith, hope and love. The fourth leaf, if found, is the one that brings good luck.

Answer: Solomon

This stone was thought to give any wearer an endowment of many gifts unavailable to the normal human being. Ancient Greeks also believed the sapphire invited good fortune from the gods. In India it is believed to bring good health and much wealth. Owning a sapphire would tend to fulfil the second of those two beliefs.

In other parts of the world it is said to protect virgins, protect one from jealousy as well, and to ward off spiders.

Answer: Cat's Eye

It is believed that anyone carrying or wearing this stone is given the gifts of strength, courage, intelligence, prosperity and many fine children - as well as a healthy dose of pleasure and enjoyment. The stone is also said to ward off poverty, sorrow and ill health.

Answer: Amber

Amber has been utilised by mankind since our very early beginnings. Today it is used in various perfumes, as ingredients in alternative medicines, and, of course, as jewellery. It's a stunningly beautiful product. Examples of its use as jewellery have been found in ancient burial sites dating back at least 13,000 years.

Its name and its association with perfumes is thought to have evolved from the old Arabic word for ambergris. This, as you know, is a product found in sperm whales from which early perfumes were created. Even though amber used in perfumes today is artificially created, it still has a beautiful and warmly scented aroma that is somehow reminiscent of a nurturing and contented love.

It's very hard to describe in words. It's not at all surprising that this exquisite product has been so valued by mankind over the centuries.

Answer: Ladder

It's only unlucky if you fall off one, or have a bucket of paint dropped on your head by a vengeful house painter. In ancient Egypt, it was believed that placing a ladder in a tomb helped the deceased climb up to heaven. Such was their belief in ladders that miniature amulets were worn as well. These were believed to help avoid wickedness and to climb to great heights in the world.

The reason they were considered unlucky in Western superstitions was two-fold. One was that the three angles of a ladder leaning against any wall represented a father, mother and child - and walking underneath this angle broke up the family unit. The second was that the three angles represented God the father, Jesus the son, and the Holy Spirit, and that walking underneath this angle meant you were trying to break up the Holy Trinity. Dire are the consequences as a result.

You'll be pleased to know however, if you're of a superstitious bent, that you can break any misfortune brought about by keeping your fingers crossed and spitting through the rungs. Three times. Be careful, should you do so, that the vengeful house painter isn't standing in front of you.