Considered as near magical and credited with supernatural powers.
The Aztecs called it “the gift from heaven” because it fell from the sky in meteor form.
Specialists were needed to remove iron from the ore and harden it. These specialists of Blacksmiths soon were thought of as magicians.
Iron is used to fight evil, keep fairies and demons away, in some case to keep vampires away. It was believed to ward off witches.
The Horseshoe has long been considered lucky. It’s possible that the crescent shape (like the moon’s) being made of iron (considered magical) and being used by the horse (often linked with being used by the horse. (Often linked with Gods and Goddesses) had a large factor.
It’s best if you find the horseshoe. There are rules of how and where to hang it depending on if you wish to bring luck or protection.
There’s an old Gypsy folktale of a young Rom (male Gypsy) who was out late. He was on his way home when he noticed 4 demons (they were named: Bad Luck, Ill Health, Unhappiness, and Death) were chasing him. One of the demons -Bad Luck- was getting closer when the Rom’s horse threw a shoe and hit the demon in the forehead.
The Rom stopped to pick-up the shoe while the other demons took their dead brother away to bury him.
The Rom told the others what happened and nailed the horseshoe to his Vardo (gypsy wagon). The three demons returned the next day. When they saw the horseshoe they turned and never returned.
The Gypsies to this day believe a horseshoe will keep bad luck away.
***It’s now politically correct to use the term Romani or Roma instead of Gypsy. I’ve always loved the lifestyle and I use Romani, Roma or Gypsy interchangibly.***
***!!! I’ll be running a witch feature next month. If you’re interested in being a part of it -short story, or an article, please get in touch with me.!!!***
Did you know Portugal has its very own vampire?
It does, she’s called a Bruxa.She can never die!
Yeah, she’s really not a good thing to run into.
Uh-huh. Everything you’ve ever thought you knew about killing vampires; won’t work with her.
So how was the Bruxa created?
It’s believed when a woman was a witch in her life, when she dies she becomes a Bruxa.
I’ve also heard that the witch will leave her house during the night (depending on where you read, as a beautiful woman or a bird); she torments travelers and drinks blood from infants.
She can carry and birth her own children, which are usually her main source of food.
There are ways to protect your child from a Bruxa. The first being put a pair of scissors under the child’s pillow. (huh? You heard me right; the Bruxa is more dangerous than a pair of scissors.)
If that’s a little too dangerous for your taste; you can place iron nails along the floor around the child’s bed, or nail it into the ground.
You could sew garlic cloves into the child’s clothes. Witches didn’t like garlic either (Who knew?).
If you suspect a Bruxa is tormenting your child, boil his clothes. Stab a sharp object -preferably iron or steel- into the boiling pot, the Bruxa will crawl to your house and beg you to stop.
I’m thinking about making Wednesdays Vampire Day. I’ll post about Vampires that day. What do you think?
Mari Wells 