Lucky Charms of Romania

9 charms from this country

Charm Traditions in Romania

Romania has one of Europe's richest and most distinctive folk-magic traditions. The mărțișor — a small red-and-white twined cord with a charm attached — is given on March 1st to usher in spring and bring health, luck, and love for the coming year. Recipients wear them throughout March. This uniquely Romanian tradition is so beloved that UNESCO added it to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The deochi (evil eye) is seriously feared and treated by babele (wise women) using specific verbal charms and water rituals. The strigoi (vampire) and iele (fairy spirits) must be placated with specific offerings and protective objects including garlic, specific herbs, and iron. The Romanian Orthodox Church provides crosses, rosary beads, and blessed water as standard protective objects. The horseshoe and lucky number traditions are pan-European standards also observed here.

Popular Charms in Romania

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

General

🍀

Four-Leaf Clover

Ireland

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

4.9Learn more →

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

Protection

🧲

Horseshoe

United Kingdom

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

4.7Learn more →

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

General

🐞

Ladybug

United Kingdom

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

4.6Learn more →

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

Wealth

🪙

Lucky Penny

United Kingdom

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

4.3Learn more →

A beautifully detailed sterling silver crucifix with a finely sculpted corpus and ornate cross design

Protection

✝️

Crucifix

Early Christianity (Rome)

The Crucifix — a cross bearing the corpus (body) of Christ — is the central symbol of Christianity and one of the most powerful protective charms in the Western world.

4.8Learn more →

A classic black obsidian rosary with a silver crucifix, each bead polished to a deep luster

Protection

📿

Rosary Beads

Medieval Europe

Rosary beads are the most recognizable Catholic prayer tool in the world, used by hundreds of millions for meditative prayer, protection, and the invocation of divine grace.