English House Charm: Horseshoe

When kept as a talisman, a horseshoe is said to bring good luck in many cultures. In some traditions, it doesn't matter how the shoe is hung so long as the horseshoe has been used, was found, and can be touched. In all traditions, luck is contained in the shoe and can pour out through the ends.

The original function of a horseshoes is to protect the animal's feet from wear and tear. The practice of nailing iron plates or rim-shoes to the hoof was introduced sometime around the 2nd century B.C. and was in regular use by the 5th century CE.

One reputed origin of the tradition of lucky horseshoes is the story of Saint Dunstan and the Devil. Dunstan, who became the Archbishop of Canterbury in AD 959, was a blacksmith by trade. The story relates that he once nailed a horseshoe to the Devil's hoof when he was asked to reshoe the Devil's hoof. This caused the Devil great pain, and Dunstan only agreed to remove the shoe and release the Devil after the Devil promised never to enter a place where a horseshoe is hung over the door.

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe