I discovered
a new charity shop last week but today I couldn’t find it! So I went to another one instead and came
home with a book, a horseshoe, and a pasta cutter that I thought might make a
good cutter for crackers.
I am not
superstitious but the idea of hanging a horseshoe in the garden for good luck
sounded like a good plan – but which way up is it meant to go?
I have read
that it should hang open end upwards to “hold in the luck” but also that the
open end should be at the bottom so that “luck is poured out on you” – so am
not quite sure what to do.
I also visited
Rototuna shopping mall and deposited $300 into my Kiwibank account from loose
change that I have been dropping into a tin for the last eighteen months or
more.
My way home
took me past this sculpture of eels (a long fresh-water fish traditionally used
as a food source) and waka (Maori canoes), and this time I stopped to
photograph it.
This 2011 sculpture (by Dion Hitchens, in collaboration with James Ormsby) represents “The awaking life force of Matariki.” The central cluster of eels reflect the name of Rototuna (Maori for Lake of Eels) and the seven waka are placed to represent the star constellation of Pleiades (known by Maori as Matariki).
I hope
someone can tell me the right thing to do with my horseshoe!
Margaret 😊
I always assumed UP...
ReplyDeletePut it sideways and cover your options. That sculpture is great. Strangely Matariki imposed itself on my consciousness somewhere else quite recently. I have never known the Maori words for any constellations then Matariki twice in a couple of months. xxF&T
ReplyDeleteMatariki is also the Maori name for the start of their New Year, named for when Pleiades reappears in the sky after being absent for winter.
DeleteI always heard 'up' and seems like all I have ever seen were up.
DeleteHere we always have the open side on the top, to catch your luck, the other way is for bad luck.....I'm sorry the eels look weird.
ReplyDeleteHmmm - I had heard up to hold the luck... you choice though!
ReplyDeleteLove that sculpture... Hamilton has a few I have notices, especially at the start of the southern expressway.
Stay safe
Blessings
Maxine
I've caught glimpses of those expressway sculptures as I whiz past. Never seems to be anywhere to stop to actually look at them :)
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI have always seen the horseshoe facing up. I love the sculpture! You have saved a lot of change.
Take care, Have a happy day!
I think your request for people to tell you what to do with your horseshoe might produce responses you don't wish to hear!
ReplyDeleteOpen to top to catch the luck, I´ve heard...
ReplyDeleteWell I have always placed my three horseshoes with the opening upwards to hold in the luck. I have to say that I am not superstitious but I would never put a horseshoe any other way. I may not be superstitious but I see no point in tempting Fate.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Graham about not tempting fate LOL - and judging by all the comments, my horseshoe will definitely be having the opening at the top!
DeleteNot sure about the horseshoe. Haven’t seen any in a long time.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing to me how change accumulates.
I just asked my husband, whose ancestors stretching back 500 years were farriers, and he says with the ends pointing upwards to collect the luck.
ReplyDeleteHi fromCanada. In horse country here they are always open side up. Jean
ReplyDeleteThe open bit at the top to hold in the luck DEFINITELY! My mother would have a fit if she saw you hanging it the other way up, all the luck will fall out.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad others were able to give advice about your horse shoe. I wouldn't know which way it should be hung!
ReplyDeleteInteresting sculptures that you photographed.
I like your pasta cutter ( I wouldn't have known what it was for). I'd be tempted to try cutting out cookies with it. The edges would be pretty.
We have a large old horseshoe. presumably from a carthorse or similar, and the ends point upwards to collect the luck.
ReplyDeleteWell, recently in a post about my back porch, someone pointed out that our horseshoes were hanging up-side-down. We had the open end pointing down. She said we should turn them around, to catch the good luck. So we did. Guess that must be the right way. :) Amazing how quickly change adds up into dollars. $300. That's a good amount!
ReplyDeleteMy horseback riding friends say that it should be hung like the letter "U" for good luck :)
ReplyDeleteI think we have an old horseshoe somewhere, now I know which way to hang it if I will hang it up! The sculptures were intersting to see. I like when sculptures have a story to tell.
ReplyDeleteI thought horseshoes were up. I like that sculpture, there are so many of them to do with Maori culture around our country.
ReplyDeleteSound like the majority are for the ends of your horseshoe pointing up Are you going to show us it in its new home?
ReplyDeleteAt the moment it is sitting among my containers (open end up!) waiting for me to work out how to hang it - I think some nails hammered through just like when shoeing a horse might do the trick.
DeleteHolding in the luck! But either way sounds good. :)
ReplyDelete