Lady Luck and Superstition

Lady Luck and Superstition are all Tied up in Ancient Superstitious Beliefs

By Charles L Harmon

 

When it comes to fortune-telling purposes these two little cubes of ivory or other material have been the harbors of good fortune. Good fortune or luck to those who have been fortunate enough to be on the right side of how they land. Woes to those who are on the wrong side of their landing. Losses can be small, tremendous, or in some cases the loss of one’s freedom.

Dice figured in the gambling games of the early Teutons. “On the throw of the dice” they would not only lose their fortunes, but their freedom as well. They became slaves to those who won. Can you imagine such a heavy outcome on the fickle roll of the dice?

 

Probably All Gamblers are Superstitious in One Way or Another

All gamblers are superstitious in one way or another. Dice is a leader in extracting or exchanging billions of dollars from one person to another or into a casinos coffers. Dice are well suited as gambling devices. That’s especially true for craps or sic bo, or for use in non-gambling tabletop games.

A traditional die is a cube (often with corners slightly rounded). A die is marked on each of its six faces with a different number of circular patches or pits called pips. They all have the same appearance within a set of dice, which is often two dice. The design is aimed at each die providing one randomly determined number. The number is in the range from one to six, with each of those values being equally likely.

This innocent little cube, or two cubes, are used in probably the most popular game in the United States (other than lotteries). That is dice or craps, where players are constantly begging Lady Luck to smile on them or help them out. Players use charms, “lucky dice”, “sweet” talk, and numerous other words and gestures all for the sake of helping them win.

Since time immemorial, dice have been used for a gambling game all over the world. During this long time period many superstitious beliefs have been associated with dice games. 

Superstitions relating to dice have been found in practically all languages. That’s whether dice are used for gambling or not. Imagine; even finding a die has superstitious meanings attached to it.

 

A Few Ancient Superstitious Beliefs Regarding Dice

• Carry dice in your pocketbook and you will always have money.
• Rub dice on a red-headed person and it will bring good luck.
• If you find a die with one spot up, you will receive a document or letter of great importance.
• Find a die with two spots up, you will take a long journey which will greatly benefit you.
• Find a die with three spots up, – a big surprise is in store for you, also you will sleep on a strange bed.
• Four spots up is a bad omen – the finder will soon meet with ingratitude from a source least expected.
• Five spots up, – the finder will experience a change in domestic affairs, and inconsistency in love.
• Six spots up is a very good omen, – the finder will shortly receive unexpected money and peace and prosperity

The mystic number seven was an important factor in dice. The Cabbalists attached a super-fortunate significance to the number seven, adding an even further lure to the gambling instinct. Even today probably all of us have heard that seven is a lucky number.

In ancient times, long, long ago the little die or dice may have began as a basic symbol in early magic or pagan belief. However, over time, the dice now represents players from all walks of life from lowly beggars to highly paid CEOs.

No matter what your station in life, dice is one game of chance where all players are equal. That is, equally vulnerable to the whims of Lady Luck.

Copyright © Charles L Harmon

 

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