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Europe - Southern

Lucky Charms of Greece

11 charms from this country

Charm Traditions in Greece

Greece is one of the world's great centers of evil eye belief, and the mati (evil eye symbol) — a blue glass eye bead — is found in every Greek home, shop, vehicle, and piece of jewelry. The belief that envy can physically harm its target (matiasma) is taken seriously across all generations of Greek society, and the diagnosis and treatment of the evil eye by knowledgeable elders is a living practice. The blue mati appears on everything from baby cribs to cruise ships.

The komboloi — a string of beads clicked rhythmically through the fingers — is a quintessentially Greek object, descended from the worry beads of Ottoman influence. The Greek pomegranate smashed on the threshold at New Year releases its hundreds of seeds, each one a wish for prosperity. The hamsa, known in Greece as the mati hand, is widely used. The horseshoe and the number seven are standard European luck-bringers adopted throughout Greece.

Popular Charms in Greece

A bright green four-leaf clover with dew drops on each leaf

Four-Leaf Clover

Ireland

The rarest clover mutation, treasured as nature's own lucky charm.

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A worn iron horseshoe with seven nail holes against a rustic wooden background

Horseshoe

United Kingdom

An iron crescent hung above doorways to catch and hold good luck.

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Gold hamsa hand amulet with blue evil eye in center palm

Hamsa Hand

Middle East

An open palm amulet warding off the evil eye across Middle Eastern and North African cultures.

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A bright red ladybug with seven black spots resting on a green leaf

Ladybug

United Kingdom

The spotted red beetle that brings good fortune to whoever it lands upon.

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A shiny copper penny lying heads-up on a pavement crack

Lucky Penny

United Kingdom

The humble copper coin that promises a turn of fortune when found heads-up.

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Bright blue Greek mati evil eye charm with concentric circles of blue, white, and dark center

Greek Mati (Evil Eye)

Greece

Greece's ancient blue eye amulet — the mati — protecting against the evil eye's harm since antiquity.

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A gold charm in the shape of the number 7, polished to a brilliant shine

Number Seven

United Kingdom

The most universally lucky number in Western culture, encoded in the cosmos itself.

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A woven wicker cornucopia overflowing with autumn fruits, vegetables, and golden grains

Cornucopia

Italy

The overflowing horn of plenty, symbol of inexhaustible abundance.

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Silver olive branch charm with leaves and olives in Greek classical style

Greek Olive Branch

Greece

The sacred olive of Athena — symbol of peace, wisdom, abundance, and civilization's deepest roots.

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Red Greek pomegranate charm bursting with seeds representing abundance and renewal

Greek Pomegranate

Greece

Greece's sacred fruit of Persephone — the pomegranate bursting with seeds symbolizing abundance, fertility, and eternal renewal.

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Greek komboloi worry beads in amber with tassel, showing traditional clicking arrangement

Greek Worry Beads (Komboloi)

Greece

Greek komboloi — beads clicked and swung to release anxiety, invite calm, and fill idle hands with meditative rhythm.

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