Popular Superstitions: The lucky horseshoe (colour litho)

The lucky horseshoe. The horseshoe, which to-day is often placed over doors to bring good luck, was in former ages regarded more as a protection against evil: thus the Saxons placed them on their doors to keep out witches. The horseshoe owes this reputation to its association with Iron, Fire and the Horse, all of which were held sacred by primitive man. Iron, however, continued to be so regarded for centuries after fire and horses became comparatively commonplace. The wedding ring of the mediaeval French peasant was a bent horseshoe nail, the most binding of oaths was taken by the Highlander on his dirk, and to this day the smith's anvil at Gretna Green serves the same purpose. Illustration for one of a set of 25 cigarette cards on the subject of Popular Superstitions issued by Godfrey Phillips in 1930.