A horseshoe’s charm comes from the legend of Saint Dunstan.
Because of Saint Dunstan’s talent as a blacksmith, he was asked by the Devil to shoe his cloven hoof.
Saint Dunstan agreed, but in carrying out the task, he caused the Devil such pain that he was able to make him promise never to enter a house that has a horseshoe hanging above the doorway.
Thus, from the Middle Ages on, the horseshoe has been considered good luck.
Many people believe that hanging a horseshoe with the ends pointing upwards is good luck as it acts as a storage container for any good luck that happens to be floating by.
Hanging a horseshoe with the ends pointing down is bad luck as all the good luck will fall out.
