As it’s St Patrick’s Day Weekend 🍀 many of us will be donning Green, wearing four-leaf clovers, and giving offerings to Diageo (the mega-corp owners of Guinness). Let’s face it, everyone loves a good time which at its core is why St Pat’s is so popular BUT…. All this lucky Irish stuff…. what about Luck in Africa? Here is a list of some of the lucky charms from the Motherland!

In Egypt, Beetles are Big News!

First stop, Egypt! Did you know that in ancient Egypt, people thought beetles were lucky? Not the music band, but the tiny bugs! They believed these beetles could bring them good luck. So, if you see a beetle, maybe it’s your lucky day! You may have heard of “Scarabs”, that’s these guys!

Ghana’s Special Symbols

Next, we zoom over to West Africa, in Ghana, where they have these cool designs called Adinkra symbols. Each design means something special, like having superhero powers to protect you or bring good luck. The most common symbol we see is probably the Sankofa Bird, which symbolises the need to look back and understand what came before to move forward!

The Handy Charm of North Africa

In North Africa, people love a charm called the Hand of Fatima. It’s a symbol that looks like a hand and is supposed to keep away bad luck. Pretty neat, right? It’s like having a magical shield around you! When you come to Egypt with us you’ll be able to grab these from the markets and gift stalls.

South Africa’s Bone Readers

Moving down to South Africa, some wise people called Sangomas use bones and other items to give advice and protect their friends. Imagine having a chat with your grandparents through these bones, asking for a bit of luck!

East Africa’s Special Amulets

Last stop, East Africa! Here, people wear special charms called amulets to stay safe and healthy. It’s like wearing your favorite superhero costume, but even cooler because it’s meant just for you.

So, isn’t it awesome how people from different parts of Africa have their unique ways of finding luck and staying protected? This St. Patrick’s Day, let’s celebrate all the amazing lucky charms from around the world.

Do you have a lucky charm or a special way to bring good luck? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below. We can’t wait to hear yours!

May luck be with you!