Tuesday Trivia Tie-in # 3 -- Lucky Charms

Welcome to Tuesday Trivia Tie-in. Each Tuesday readers are invited to share a blog post about one of their collection and a bit of related trivia.

My posts will be about one of my ties. This feature was inspired by a great deal I got on an entire rack of ties at a flea market. You can read all about it here.

My tie this week is a nod to March and the approach of St. Patrick's Day. My Lucky Tie.



This tie is particularly lucky, because he gets to hang out with all my other cool ties.



I bought this tie brand spanking new, for $1.00 at The Christmas Tree Store. (I love that store.) It has no markings of any kind. I don't know who made it, who designed it, what it is made of, or anything else about it.


But it certainly sets the mood to invite the Luck o' the Irish into my life.



What is it about something that causes us to consider it a lucky item?



I was just talking to my Father-in-Law last week and he asked me the age old question, "Why do we consider Rabbits feet lucky? They obviously didn't do much for the rabbit?"

I was curious myself, so I spent some attempting time to find out, and discovered that there are as many different theories as there are rabbits. Some say that ancient people believe we were spiritually descended from rabbits, while others claim that it used to be believed that witches could turn into rabbits, and if you cut off their foot, it kept them from changing back.

Personally, I was most inclined to believe the theory that the Celts, in 600 BC held the rabbit in high regard, as a lucky animal, because of their prolific reproduction. Fertility was a sign of prosperity and good luck, and rabbits seemed to have an abundance of that.



Horseshoes, Lucky Pennies, Four Leafed Clovers, all sorts of things have been used as good luck charms. Even herbs, which brings me to my trivia topic of the week, LUCKY HERBS.

In bygone eras Magic and Medicine were intermingled. The term Witch Doctor, is no accident. Those who knew how to use herbs were often both respected and feared, because they understood things that others did not.

The line between medicinal and superstition was blurred and is still not quite clear.
When we drink an herbal tea to relax us, part of the relaxation is in fact from the herbs, part is simply from the hot water, and part is nothing more than the ritual of making and drinking the tea. Then, we have the placebo effect. If I believe something will relax me, and I do it, fully intending and expecting to be relaxed, often I become relaxed. It's only logical really.



Having said that, there are many herbs that have been considered as luck charms over the year.

I do not know the basis behind this. I do know that there is more to many herbs than meets the eye, or even the nose.

I'm simply going to share some fun LUCKY HERB tidbits with you, and let you come to your own conclusions.



At Herbal Home Remedies, we can learn that:

Chamomile is the gambler’s lucky herb. Not long ago, gamblers were known to bathe their hands in chamomile solutions for better luck at gaming

Frankincense was presented by The Magi to the savior. Carrying a small piece of this aromatic herb is considered lucky

And, other herbs for good luck include Rosemary, Thyme, Spearmint, Tonka Bean, Job’s Tears, and Honeysuckle.

"How do you use them?" You may ask.

Well, at Pioneer Thinking, we can learn that:

Plants of all kinds have been used for centuries to draw money to a person or bring prosperity to a home.
There are several ways to use a plant in this manner:
You can carry some of the substance with you in a small bag or locket or sew a sachet or pouch

A more involved ritual may involve boiling herbs in water, in an earthenware pot, over an open flame, and breathing the fumes. This combines the four elements, Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Even if they don't bring prosperity, this method can help clear your sinuses and can be good for the complexion.

Some of the herbs they suggest?

Alfalfa – Known traditionally as the “good luck” herb

Allspice – thought to attract business luck or success

Bayberry - A bayberry candle burned to the socket brings luck to the home

Mint: All the mints attract good spirits good fortune.

We grow Mint, Chamomile, Thyme, Rosemary, so we are well on our way to luck and prosperity, and, if all else fails, I'll wear my lucky tie.

Wish me luck!



Ok, Now it's your turn. Enter your link below. Make sure you link to your post and not just your main blog. And remember, each person who joins today gets three extra entries in my Great Greenhouse Giveaway.

Are you wearing your lucky tie?

Be sure and join me each Tuesday for Tuesday Trivia Tie-in, where readers are invited to share trivia and show off their treasures.

For a complete list of the rules, click here.