12 Animals That Bring Good Luck

These creatures may creep out some, but the Chinese culture welcomes the winged mammals — the Chinese word for bat even means “good luck.” Bats are often seen as a sign of a long and healthy life. Some in China will wear amulets featuring bats to encourage good fortune to come into their lives. Bats also appear on greeting cards as a sign that the sender is wising the recipient wellness and success.

Bears were revered by numerous Native American and Siberian cultures. The animals were seen as good luck to catch since they could feed a family for a sustained period. The creature was also thought to have strong supernatural powers of good, based on its ability to hibernate throughout the winter. Siberians believed that the bear was an incarnation of their god.

Ancient Egyptians looked upon beetles as a sign of luck, specifically the Egyptian scarab. Beetles were celebrated for their ability to harness the power of the sun. The sun was important to the Ancient Egyptians since it could make or break a season of crops. The Egyptian scarab would wrap its eggs in the mud and use the sun for incubation, which impressed the Egyptians. Because of this ingenuity and ability to always find new life through the sun, Egyptians saw the scarab as a transmitter of luck.

Bulls are known for bringing luck to a variety of cultures. Greek, Celtic, Egyptian and East Indian people all see the animal as a powerful force. The bull is said to be a sign of positive things from good health to wealth. The Greeks looked upon the bull as a master of love and fertility.

The deer is another symbol of Chinese good luck. The Chinese word for deer, “lu,” means “income.” Often the deer is featured in artwork to symbolize luck, success, longevity and prosperity. The animal is also supposed to represent the hope for an overall long and healthy life.

In India, many see the elephant as a positive omen. Some believe this stems from the elephant’s place as a status symbol in the country. Only the richest families owned elephants. Currently, the elephant is seen as a bringer of fortune and wealth.

The frog is a good-luck symbol for many cultures that depend on rain for rich and bountiful crops. To these folks, a frog can be a sign of prosperous weather to come. Frogs are also considered lucky by a variety of others, who see the amphibian as a symbol of fertility, transformation and safe travel.

For a creature with such a short memory, these critters are responsible for a lot. Goldfish are one of the eight sacred symbols of Buddha, representing fertility, abundance and harmony. Ancient Greeks looked to goldfish to bring good luck to their marriages, while Egyptians brought the swimmers into their homes to add positivity to domestic situations.

Horses are an important symbol to many cultures throughout history because of all they have done for society. The horse’s aid in war, agriculture and transportation has led many to look upon the animal as special. Overall, horses are said to be a sign of power, beauty and industry.

Lizards are a good-luck signs due to their sneaky abilities. Because this animal is mainly nocturnal, it has become a symbol for good vision and protection against the unseen things in life. Additionally, lizards often stay in hiding, so seeing a lizard scurrying away is said to be a sign to tell you to flee trouble as well, before it occurs.

Both Chinese and Irish people cherish the pig as a sign of good things. Chinese lore says that pigs can bring good luck to business dealings, while Irishmen respect the pig because of an old folktale. In the tale, a fortunate shepherd is said to have a herd of pigs that always regenerates, so the herd never loses a member.

There is more to this creature than their infamous lucky feet. Rabbits have long been associated with strong fertility. This animal was an important sign for the ancient Saxon people. After long, barren winters, spotting a rabbit was a message of the lush and hopeful spring to come. It was these beliefs that helped form the tradition of the Easter bunny.