DO you feel lucky? From charms and trinkets to strange rituals, nearly all of us have ways that we hope will bring us luck.

Desperate to avoid misfortune, we carry round charms from horseshoes to rabbit's feet to lucky pennies, and perform strange rituals like chucking salt over our left shoulder to get the devil. Most of us avidly avoid walking under ladders, breaking mirrors and opening umbrellas indoors in case it brings us bad luck.
We've all heard of these superstitions, and more, some of us even practice them. But few actually know where they came from and how they originated.

Most superstitions originate from ancient biblical and European beliefs and carrying lucky charms or talisman has existed throughout history in many different cultures. It's thought that they attract good luck and ward off evil.

A lucky rabbit's foot is perhaps one of the more popular charms. Brought to our country by the enslaved Africans, it was believed it would let you escape from danger with the speed of a fast animal.

Mojo, or luck, bags originated from African Voodoo ceremonies. The bag contains lucky items or a spell meant for a particular effect. Items from spices to teeth and feathers can be put in the bag and then it's 'charged', or blessed, so a magical effect is produced for its owner. Mojo bags are still popular today. Many magazines and web-site advertisements sell them.

Lucky clover originates from Ireland. Followers of St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who was thought to drive the devil from the country, have adopted the shamrock and the rare four-leaved clover as a symbol of luck because clover grows peacefully in the fields of Ireland.

During the times of the crusades, Nordic countries used their magical alphabet, known as the runes, for protection. They carved symbols of their battle successes into the stones so the soldiers could carry them for luck.

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