What is Luck?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Luck \u2013 what exactly is it? It\u2019s defined as a combination of circumstances, events, etc., operating by chance to bring good or ill to a person. The concept of luck, either positive or negative, is a universal element of every culture. Our habits and ideas about luck are often remnants of past times. Back when a lack of understanding about how the world worked inevitably led to attempts to create some kind of logic of our own. It\u2019s called the uncertainty hypothesis. It’s the idea that when individuals are unsure of an outcome, they try to find a way to control it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here at Planet 7 Casino, we believe wholeheartedly in doing things your own way. Find your own balance of what practically works for you as a gambler. But don\u2019t shy away from some personal touches that enhance your enjoyment. Lucky symbols are a perfect example. Don\u2019t blow your whole payroll just because you\u2019ve added an expensive new trinket to your arsenal. But don\u2019t scoff at and dismiss what can be a fun aspect of your experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luck comes in many forms. There are some well-known good luck symbols<\/a> like evil eye charms, four-leaf clovers, and rainbows. But there are other interesting examples as well. As part of a three-part series examining how different peoples and cultures perceive luck, we take a closer look at seven lucky animals believed to bring good fortune, their origins, and what they mean to the cultures that hold them dear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGl\u00fccksbringer\u201d is the German word for lucky charm. Today, you can find plenty of good luck charms sold in Germany, including conventional symbols like four-leaf clovers, ladybugs, and horseshoes. However, one somewhat unusual cultural remnant from a long time ago is the Schwein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, if you find yourself in an altercation with a German-speaking stranger and he calls you a \u201cSchwein,\u201d it\u2019s pretty safe to assume that he\u2019s not paying you a compliment. It\u2019s the German word for pig, related to the English word \u201cswine\u201d. And they\u2019re both insults that can be used to taunt a person that you find unpleasant or contemptible. But, if he adds an important extra syllable and says that you\u2019re a \u201cGl\u00fccksschwein,\u201d then you can relax. It\u2019s not an altercation at all! He\u2019s paying you a compliment. He is still calling you a pig, but he\u2019s calling you a good-luck pig. That makes all the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, how did today\u2019s belief in the lucky nature of pigs come to be? There are a few early sources. First, among the Germanic peoples of central Europe and southern Scandinavia, the animal\u2019s early significance originates in mythology. Freyr was the Norse god of peace, rain, sun, and perhaps most importantly, fertility. In one story, two dwarf brothers slaved away at the furnace to craft a special gift for him out of a pig\u2019s skin and golden wire. He was given Gullinbursti (meaning \u201cGolden Bristles\u201d), a magical boar, to pull his chariot. Gullinbursti could run faster than a horse over land or sea, and he had a mane that glowed in the dark. Freyr\u2019s sister, the goddess of love, beauty, fertility, gold, sorcery, and death, also kept her pet boar Hildisvini by her side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to the popularity of these images, the wild boar was viewed as a sacred animal, a symbol of courage, strength, and fertility. With a little research, you\u2019ll find that a great number of good luck tokens emerge initially as symbols of fertility. Before the technological and medical advances of our time, most society\u2019s priority was survival, keeping your family line alive. That meant a lot of praying or worshipping in an effort to ensure offspring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Greek, Roman, and later cultures, there were more practical roots than mythological beliefs. Especially during the Middle Ages, pigs were a sign of wealth. It makes sense for an agricultural society. If you\u2019re able to afford pigs or you manage to breed them successfully, you are also less likely to go hungry and more likely to have a comfortable lifestyle. Owning pigs became a sign of one\u2019s privilege and prosperity. In fact, during this time period, a common consolation prize at various competitions was a piglet. Like a prosperous harvest season, pig breeding was considered a sign of security and good fortune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In German, \u201cto have luck\u201d is literally translated as \u201cGl\u00fcck haben\u201d. But today, you can substitute the word for pig with luck and say \u201cSchwein haben\u201d instead (\u201cto have pig\u201d). \u201cSchwein gehabt\u201d is a popular saying that expresses \u201cGot lucky there!\u201d Pig charms can be found in many forms, including amulets, Christmas ornaments, enamel figurines, plastic toys, and most popularly as piggy banks. During New Year\u2019s in German-speaking countries, street markets often sell small marzipan pigs decorated with four-leaf clovers for extra luck in the upcoming year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n7 – Lucky Pig: Germany<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"pig](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/pig-2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nSacred Swine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pigs and Prosperity across Cultures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6 – Lucky Scarab Beetle: Egypt<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"scarab](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/scarab-2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"dala](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/horse-2.jpg\")
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