英美文化中的幸运符，你知道几个

 　　1. Rabbit's Foot

　　兔脚

　　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 hind¹ foot.

　　在古代的英语文化习俗中，据说野兔（不是家兔）长着一只邪眼，只有拥有一只野兔的后脚的人才能正视它的目光。

　　In the olden days, it was said that the warrior² 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.

　　据说，很久以前，来自英国东部诺福克的勇士博阿迪西亚女王在与入侵其王国的罗马帝国军队打仗时，就随身带着一只野兔来确保逢战必胜。

　　This brought people to believe that the hare had miraculous³ 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.

　　这个传说令人们相信野兔具有不可思议的魔力。然而，到了公元6世纪，随着大多数不列颠人在坎特伯雷大主教的教化下改信基督教，这种异教徒对野兔的膜拜行为最终停止了。

　　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.

　　尽管如此，还是有很多英国人的口袋或者钱包中放着兔脚。后来，家兔从别的欧洲国家被引进到英国，由于家兔比野兔更容易获取，所以家兔的脚便取代野兔的脚成了幸运符。

　　2. Four-leaf Clover

　　四瓣三叶草

　　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.

　　三叶草实际上是一种野生植物，它的花朵形状如同棉花球，通常在每一支梗上有三片叶子。事实上，四个瓣的三叶草是非常罕见的。

　　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".

　　人们相信，偶然发现四个瓣的三叶草是一种幸运的象征。而且，四瓣三叶草的外形和十字架相似。 英语中还有一句谚语叫做“住在三叶草里”，其基本意思就是“拥有足够多的钱，能够十分安逸地生活”。

　　3. Old Boot

　　旧靴子

　　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，据说旧的靴子或鞋子能够留存住其主人的美德和勇气。因此，过去人们通常认为旧靴子是一种幸运符。

　　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，如果一个渔夫钓上来的不是鱼而是一只旧靴子，人们就会认为，过完这一天的时候，这个渔夫将会捕获大量的鱼，满载而归。

　　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 fend⁴ off evil spirits.

　　再比如，在英格兰北部，水手的妻子们通常会朝离港的船只扔旧靴子或者旧鞋子，以保佑自己的丈夫平平安安。人们还将旧靴子放在老房子的屋顶上来驱除邪灵。

　　4. Horseshoe

　　马蹄铁

　　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".

　　在英语文化中，马蹄铁被看做是一种幸运符。它类似于其他文化中与幸运有关的标志，诸如新月、半圆或者是“U”形。

　　Crescent or "U" shapes are often said to be the symbol of fertility and also possesses power toward 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”形往往被认为是丰饶肥沃的象征，并且还具有驱除邪灵的魔力。而马蹄铁由于是用在马身上的铁制品，因而又被人们看作与力量和权力有关。

　　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 horse shoe must be placed in an upright "U" position so that the good fortune will be retained by the household.

　　因此，集所有幸运象征于一身的马蹄铁就被人们看做是能招福辟邪的利器。人们通常将马蹄铁钉在房子的大门上，保护家人免受诸如巫师或者邪灵等不速之客的打扰。不过，钉的时候马蹄铁的U形口一定要朝上，只有这样，这家人才能留得住好运。

　　5. Wood

　　木头

　　Back in pagan times, trees were considered as sacred symbol of immortality⁵. Touching⁶ 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.

　　早在异教徒的时代，树就被视为是永生不朽的神圣象征。人们在祈求神灵庇佑之后，会触摸树以示对神灵的尊敬;或者是在祈求得到应验后，触摸树以表达对神灵的感激。

　　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 crucifixes and often touched them as a sign of penitence⁷.

　　在英国人皈依基督教之后，人们依旧坚信树是神圣之物，因为耶稣就是被钉死在木制十字架之上的。当时的人们佩戴木制的十字架，并且经常触摸它们以示忏悔。

　　Even now, people who are superstitious⁸ 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.

　　甚至现在，迷信的人还都会在沾沾自喜、讲别人坏话、说出任何轻率的言论或者是做出类似的事情时，试着去触摸木头或者敲打木头，期望这样做能够驱除一天之中所有的霉运。

1 hind   

adj.后面的，后部的

参考例句：

• The animal is able to stand up on its hind limbs.这种动物能够用后肢站立。
• Don't hind her in her studies.不要在学业上扯她后腿。

2 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

3 miraculous   

adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的

参考例句：

• The wounded man made a miraculous recovery.伤员奇迹般地痊愈了。
• They won a miraculous victory over much stronger enemy.他们战胜了远比自己强大的敌人，赢得了非凡的胜利。

4 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。

5 immortality   

n.不死，不朽

参考例句：

• belief in the immortality of the soul 灵魂不灭的信念
• It was like having immortality while you were still alive. 仿佛是当你仍然活着的时候就得到了永生。

6 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

7 penitence   

n.忏悔，赎罪；悔过

参考例句：

• The thief expressed penitence for all his past actions. 那盗贼对他犯过的一切罪恶表示忏悔。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Of penitence, there has been none! 可是悔过呢，还一点没有！ 来自英汉文学 - 红字

8 superstitious   

adj.迷信的

参考例句：

• They aim to deliver the people who are in bondage to superstitious belief.他们的目的在于解脱那些受迷信束缚的人。
• These superstitious practices should be abolished as soon as possible.这些迷信做法应尽早取消。