Why does the horseshoe bring happiness?-Western European legends
Numerous legends and horseshoot horses come from real life. In the early centuries of our era, iron has just been discovered in Europe. It was very expensive and every iron object had a high price.
In the countryside, iron was very rare. If a family found an iron horseshoe in the road, that was considered a great success. From it could be made, for example, a knife and a few nails.
In different European countries there are different legends about the horseshoe as a symbol of prosperity, luck and happiness. It was believed that once the horse was slanted, it was protected by witches and evil spirits, since iron had the ability to drive them away.
According to an English legend, the patron saint of St. Dunstan was known in his workshop by Satan himself. He wished a horseshoe for his horse's hooves. But Dunstan saw in this chance to punish him for his evil, and began to incite him with a terrible power Satan himself instead of his horse. The devil twisted in pain, but as he could not get away, he asked the smith to have mercy on him. Then Dunstan made him promise that he would never be safer to a place near a horseshoe, and then he let go of it. That is why people today believe that if they hitch a horseshoe over the door of their home, the devil will flee from them, and peace and harmony will reign in the home.Due to the specific shape of the horseshoe (crescent), it is mentioned in the oldest legends as a sacred symbol. Some even resemble its shape with that of the Egyptian goddess of the fertility of Isis. For the same reason, Turkish peoples consider it lucky because of its half-moon shape. The Chinese and the Indians are similar to the horseshoe shape with the curves of the sacred snake Nagdreda.
The Irish version of the legend tells of a race between the gods, during which one of the horse's horseshoe fell on the lands of the Emerald Island, flooded by the sea. Suddenly, with magic, the waters calmed down and retreated. Perhaps that is why the horseshoe is also important for sailors. If he clings to the mast, over the cabin door or under the deck, luck would necessarily accompany the ship. That is why the admiral Nelson's frieze mast also had a horseshoe attached.In our lands, it was also considered a good omen to find a horseshoe on the road. In some places there was even a special ritual in such cases. The horseshoe should be lifted up, spit, think of desire, throw away at the left shoulder, and then without looking to go forward. There was another custom elsewhere - taking the find and kneeling it on the front door. The ritual of hanging the front door is widespread and popular all over the world.
