Charm at the entrance of my home: is this all right?

[VivaPadrePio]

I have a traditional English charm at the entrance of my home: a cat with a horseshoe.
I bought it because I thought it a nice English tradition, a way to honour the traditions of the Country I live in, even if it not my Fatherland.

I am now slowly wondering whether this was the right thing to do and whether such things have an element of superstition in them, that is: whether I am juts helping to perpetuate a superstition.

I obviously do not believe that the cat and the horseshoes have any power whatsoever, and look at it more as a way to honour the past.

But if this goes against my faith, then I’ll get rid of it. After all, I would also not read an horoscope, let alone believe in it, just because simple and superstitious people have been doing it for centuries.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Trishie]

My grandmother was English and I married into an English family and they have no attachment to such things.

A charm would supposedly have magical properties ascribed to it
thus it may give a message to others that you don’t wish to give, that of being superstitious.
There are probably other ways of expressing your respect for the traditions and culture of the English.

There are surely many English traditions you can choose to honor, and you could always plant a wonderful English cottage garden if nothing else comes to mind…or hang paintings or prints of English artists like Constable ot Turner, or recite Wordswoth or Blake…or…

it probably isn’t all that big a deal, but it isn’t such a universal English tradition anyway…

Naturally, it’s up to you!

God bless you

 

[paperwight]

It’s not an English tradition at all. Well, putting an image like that at a doorway isn’t, but I suppose they are seen on Good Luck greeting cards.

But a suggestion : England is traditionally called ‘The Dowry of Mary’ so why not put a picture of Our Lady of Walsingham’ there? Before the Reformation, Walsingham, a village In Norfolk, was called ‘Engand’s Nazareth’, and I believe had the same status as a place of pilgrimage as Jerusalem and Rome. A quick google will tell you more.

 

[Dempsey1919]

I am English, and I personally have never heard of this symbol. However, a horseshoe is considered lucky and some people hang them on exterior doors. You don’t see this in the cities and towns, but I have seen many farmers and country people do this.

I would not hang this symbol on my door because it probably has pagan origins, and is used for superstitious reasons. You should replace this symbol with an English Christian symbol such as Our Lady of Walsingham as the previous poster suggested. Everyone who visits your home will see this symbol, and it will be a testimony of your faith in Christ through his Blessed Mother.

 

[VivaPadrePio]

Thanks to all.
I have thrown it away and Our Lady of Walsingham will it be…

Ironically, I remember buying it in the shop of the well-known Anglican church of St. Martin in the Fields.
It goes to show…

 

[Dempsey1919]

Read about “The Dowry of Mary” as another poster suggested. Pre-reformation England was known throughout the world for it’s great love and devotion to Our Lady. Several English Kings gave England as a gift to Mary - hence the title of England as Mary’s dowry.