Rabbit's Foot 兔腳

In the old English custom, the hare (not rabbit) was said to have an evil eye, whose glance can only be countered by people who own a hare's hind foot.
在古代的英語(yǔ)文化習(xí)俗中，據(jù)說(shuō)野兔(不是家兔)長(zhǎng)著一只邪眼，只有擁有一只野兔的后腳的人才能正視它的目光。

In the olden days, it was said that the warrior Queen Boadicea of Norfolk, East Britain, brought a hare with her to ensure luck in battle against the Roman Empire who had invaded her kingdom.
據(jù)說(shuō)，很久以前，來(lái)自英國(guó)東部諾?？说挠率坎┌⒌衔鱽喤踉谂c入侵其王國(guó)的羅馬帝國(guó)軍隊(duì)打仗時(shí)，就隨身帶著一只野兔來(lái)確保逢戰(zhàn)必勝。

This brought people to believe that the hare had miraculous powers. However, the pagan practice of worshiping the hare eventually stopped after most Britons were converted to Christianity in the 6th century by the first Archbishop of Canterbury.
這個(gè)傳說(shuō)令人們相信野兔具有不可思議的魔力。然而，到了公元6世紀(jì)，隨著大多數(shù)不列顛人在坎特伯雷大主教的教化下改信基督教，這種異教徒對(duì)野兔的膜拜行為最終停止了。

Nevertheless, many Britons carried hare's feet in their pocket or purse. Later, rabbits were introduced in Britain from the other European countries, and since rabbits can be caught more easily than hares, the rabbit's foot replaced the hare's foot as a lucky charm.
盡管如此，還是有很多英國(guó)人的口袋或者錢(qián)包中放著兔腳。后來(lái)，家兔從別的歐洲國(guó)家被引進(jìn)到英國(guó)，由于家兔比野兔更容易獲取，所以家兔的腳便取代野兔的腳成了幸運(yùn)符。

Four-leaf Clover 四瓣三葉草

Clover is actually a type of wild plant with flowers shaped like cotton balls and usually has three leaves on each stem. In fact it is very rare to find a four-leaf clover.
三葉草實(shí)際上是一種野生植物，它的花朵形狀如同棉花球，通常在每一支梗上有三片葉子。事實(shí)上，四個(gè)瓣的三葉草是非常罕見(jiàn)的。

It is believed that to accidentally find a four-leaf clover is a sign of good luck. Moreover, the shape of four-leaf clover resembles the symbol of the crucifix. There is also an English saying "to live in clover" which basically means "to have enough money to be able to live comfortably".
人們相信，偶然發(fā)現(xiàn)四個(gè)瓣的三葉草是一種幸運(yùn)的象征。而且，四瓣三葉草的外形和十字架相似。英語(yǔ)中還有一句諺語(yǔ)叫做“住在三葉草里”，其基本意思就是“擁有足夠多的錢(qián)，能夠十分安逸地生活”。

Old Boot 舊靴子

In ancient days, old boots or shoes were said to hold the good spirit and courage of their owners. Therefore, it was a common belief that an old boot was a good luck charm.
很久以前，據(jù)說(shuō)舊的靴子或鞋子能夠留存住其主人的美德和勇氣。因此，過(guò)去人們通常認(rèn)為舊靴子是一種幸運(yùn)符。

For instance, if a fisherman caught himself an old boot instead of fish, it is believed that at the end of the day he would be able to catch and take home a huge amount of fish.
比如，如果一個(gè)漁夫釣上來(lái)的不是魚(yú)而是一只舊靴子，人們就會(huì)認(rèn)為，過(guò)完這一天的時(shí)候，這個(gè)漁夫?qū)?huì)捕獲大量的魚(yú)，滿載而歸。

In north England for instance, the wives of sailors would usually toss old boots or shoes at the departing ships to ensure their husbands' safe journey. Old boots were also left on the roofs of old houses to fend off evil spirits.
再比如，在英格蘭北部，水手的妻子們通常會(huì)朝離港的船只扔舊靴子或者舊鞋子，以保佑自己的丈夫平平安安。人們還將舊靴子放在老房子的屋頂上來(lái)驅(qū)除邪靈。

Horseshoe 馬蹄鐵

The horseshoe is considered a lucky symbol in English customs. It resembles the other symbols associated with good fortune in other cultures such as the crescent, half circle or "U".
在英語(yǔ)文化中，馬蹄鐵被看做是一種幸運(yùn)符。它類似于其他文化中與幸運(yùn)有關(guān)的標(biāo)志，諸如新月、半圓或者是“U”形。

Crescent or "U" shapes are often said to be the symbol of fertility and also possesses power to ward off evil spirit. As it is made of iron and used for horses, horseshoes are also linked to strength and power.
新月或者“U”形往往被認(rèn)為是豐饒肥沃的象征，并且還具有驅(qū)除邪靈的魔力。而馬蹄鐵由于是用在馬身上的鐵制品，因而又被人們看作與力量和權(quán)力有關(guān)。

As such, combining all these signs of good luck, the horseshoe is regarded as a powerful device to bring fortune and keep evil spirits away. It is usually nailed to the front door to protect the household from uninvited visitors like witches and evils. However, the horseshoe must be placed in an upright "U" position so that the good fortune will be retained by the household.
因此，集所有幸運(yùn)象征于一身的馬蹄鐵就被人們看做是能招福辟邪的利器。人們通常將馬蹄鐵釘在房子的大門(mén)上，保護(hù)家人免受諸如巫師或者邪靈等不速之客的打擾。不過(guò)，釘?shù)臅r(shí)候馬蹄鐵的U形口一定要朝上，只有這樣，這家人才能留得住好運(yùn)。

Wood 木頭

Back in pagan times, trees were considered as sacred symbol of immortality. Touching the tree was a sign of respect to the gods after a favor has been requested, or thanks to the gods for a request that had been fulfilled.
早在異教徒的時(shí)代，樹(shù)就被視為是永生不朽的神圣象征。人們?cè)谄砬笊耢`庇佑之后，會(huì)觸摸樹(shù)以示對(duì)神靈的尊敬；或者是在祈求得到應(yīng)驗(yàn)后，觸摸樹(shù)以表達(dá)對(duì)神靈的感激。

After the English embraced Christianity, the people retained their belief that wood is holy as Christ died on a wooden cross. People at that time wore wooden crucifixesand often touched them as a sign of penitence.
在英國(guó)人皈依基督教之后，人們依舊堅(jiān)信樹(shù)是神圣之物，因?yàn)橐d就是被釘死在木制十字架之上的。當(dāng)時(shí)的人們佩戴木制的十字架，并且經(jīng)常觸摸它們以示懺悔。

Even now, people who are superstitious will try to touch or knock on wood after gloating, talking bad things about other people, making any rash statement of intent or so on, so that the action will get rid of any bad lucks during the day.
甚至現(xiàn)在，迷信的人還都會(huì)在沾沾自喜、講別人壞話、說(shuō)出任何輕率的言論或者是做出類似的事情時(shí)，試著去觸摸木頭或者敲打木頭，期望這樣做能夠驅(qū)除一天之中所有的霉運(yùn)。