St. Patrick’s Day inspired us to explore the concept of luck & how we attach meaning to the animals we love. Take a look at our Top 9 Sacred Animals Around the World:

1. Fish are a symbol of luck in China. In fact, it’s traditional to serve fish at New Year’s dinner. The word fish, “Yu”, sounds like the word “wish” or “abundance” in Cantonese and Mandarin.

2. Cows have long been sacred in India. They are protected animals under the Hindu religion. Hindus do not eat beef. In fact, most rural Indian families have at least one dairy cow which is often treated as a member of the family. Cow products are used in worship.

3. In Germany, it is believed that pigs bring good fortune and financial prosperity. The tradition stems from the fact that pigs have multiple functions on a farm and are considered to represent abundance and wellbeing.

4. Some Native American tribes and ancient peoples around Alaska believed the bear to be lucky. They viewed the bear as holding supernatural powers which enabled it to hibernate through winter. In Scandinavian folklore, the bear is the reincarnation of the great god Odin, ruler of Asgard.

5. Ancient Egyptians considered scarab beetles to be a sign of good fortune. In ancient Egyptian culture, the sun was worshipped as a powerful force that could bring forth crops or cause famine. Scarabs use the power of the sun when they lay their eggs in balls of mud or dung. The sun bakes the mud balls and provides warmth and protection for their offspring. Thus the beetle also represents new life.

6. The elephant is a powerful symbol of good luck and wealth in India. In a sacred Hindu text called Rig Veda, the elephant is described as the only animal which has a hand. Elephants were used by royalty and are still status symbols today.

7. The horse has long been revered in Native American cultures. Native American tribes viewed the horse as a powerful being that will bring good fortune and power to the tribe. They believed they could only harness the horses’ power by cultivating mutual respect.

8. In many ancient cultures like the Celts, the frog is associated with rain. Rain is considered good luck of course because it brings crops and food for the village. Similarly, in China, the frog is believed to bring good fortune and is seen as yin energy. Yin and yang are equal but opposing forces which exist in everything. The Yin aspect is flowing, smooth, cool, and dark in nature. In fact, rain is considered to be yin energy.

9. The ancient Greeks believed goldfish were lucky, as they were thought to enhance relationships and marriage. In ancient Egypt, they believed goldfish brought luck to the whole family.