March is the month of St. Patrick’s Day and our minds turn to thoughts of Good Luck and Four Leaf Clovers. While our pet sitting services company loves all the world’s furbabies, there are a special few that are considered lucky. Here are 12 animals that are considered lucky and the stories behind them.
- RABBIT: These adorable furry creatures were an important sign for the ancient Saxon people. After long, barren winters, spotting a rabbit was a message of the lush and hopeful Spring to come. This belief helped form the tradition of the Easter Bunny. Rabbits are also considered good luck as a symbol of strong fertility. Of course, we all know about the unfortunate tradition of the lucky Rabbit’s foot.
- PIG: Irish people as well and the Chinese consider the pig a sign of good things. Chinese lore states that pigs can bring good luck to business dealings. Irish respect the pig because of an old folktale. In the folktale, a shepherd was said to have a herd of pigs that always regenerated so the herd never lost a member.
- LIZARDS: These creatures are said to be good luck due to their sneaky abilities. It has become a symbol for good vision and protection against the unseen things in life. Lizards usually stay in hiding so spotting a lizard scurrying away is said to be a sign telling you to flee trouble before it occurs.
- HORSES: The elegant horse is an important symbol in many cultures throughout history. They have done so much for society. They aid in agriculture, transportation, and even war. Horses are said to be a symbol of power, beauty, and industry.
- GOLDFISH: For such a small creature, they stand for a lot. Goldfish are one of the eight sacred symbols of Buddha, representing fertility, abundance, and harmony. Ancient Greeks also looked at Goldfish as good luck for their marriages. Egyptians brought them home to add positivity to domestic situations.
- FROG: A frog is a sign of prosperous weather to come. It is considered a good-luck symbol for many cultures that depend on rain for rich, bountiful crops. Others consider the frog lucky as a symbol of fertility, transformation, and safe travel.
- ELEPHANTS: Many in India see the elephant as a positive omen. Some believe this is due to the elephant’s place as a status symbol in the country. Only wealthy families owned elephants. The elephant is seen as a bringer of fortune and wealth.
- DEER: The graceful deer is another symbol of Chinese good luck. The Chinese word for deer is “lu” and means “income”. The deer is often featured in artwork to symbolize luck, success, longevity, and prosperity. It is also supposed to represent the hope for an overall long and healthy life.
- BULL: This animal is seen as a powerful force by Greek, Celtic, Egyptian, and East Indian people. They are known to bring good luck in a variety of cultures. The bull is said to be a sign of positive things from wealth to health. The Greeks looked upon the bull as master of love and fertility.
- BEETLES: Ancient Egyptians looked upon the beetle as a sign of luck, especially the Egyptian scarab. They were celebrated for their ability to harness the power of the sun. The sun was important to the Ancient Egyptians for bountiful crops. The Egyptian scarab would wrap its eggs in the mud and use the sun for incubation, which impressed the Egyptians. Because of this ingenuity and ability to always find new life through the sun, Egyptians saw the scarab as a transmitter of luck.
- BEARS: Numerous Native American and Siberian cultures revered the bear. They were seen as good luck to catch since they could feed a family for a sustained period. Bears were also seen to possess supernatural powers of good, based on their ability to hibernate throughout the winter. Siberians believed the bear was an incarnation of their god.
- BATS: Chinese culture welcomes winged mammals. The Chinese word for bat even means “good luck”. Bats are often seen as a sign of a long and healthy life. You see some people in China wearing amulets featuring bats in order to bring good fortune into their lives. Bats even appear on greeting cards as a sign the sender is wishing the recipient wellness and success.
For me, and possibly you as well, my own fur-babies are my good luck. They are my family and I love their adorable eyes watching my every move. Who could love me more than they do? I assure you the love is returned back to them in spades. It is my good fortune to have them in my life.
Let us help you with your furry, loveable, good-luck animals. If you need to have someone stop in your home to give them a break during the day while you are at work, or if you are out of town, we’d love to take care of your fur-babies with our excellent pet sitting services.
Visit us at Inside and Out Pet Care or call us at 970-297-8689.