Y Bedol Lwcus - The Lucky Horseshoe

Mae pob Llwy Garu yn cynnwys nifer o symbolau sydd yn rhoi ystyr unigryw iddi. Symbol sydd yn cael ei ddefnyddio yn aml, yn arbennig fel symbol ar Lwy Garu dyweddio, yw'r bedol lwcus. Rydym wedi gwneud peth ymchwil i darddiad cysylltiad y bedol â Lwc Dda, a dyma'r canlyniad...

Every Welsh love Spoon features many symbols, that give the spoon an unique meaning. A symbol that is often used, especially on an Engagement Lovespoon, is the Lucky Horseshoe. We have researched the origin of the connection between the Lucky Horseshoe and Good Luck. Here are our findings...

Press here to view our full collection of Celtic Love Spoons.

Horseshoes are considered a good luck charm in many cultures. A common tradition is that if a horseshoe is hung on a door with the two ends pointing up then good luck will occur. However, if the two ends point downwards then bad luck will occur. Traditions do differ on this point, though. In some cultures, the horseshoe is hung points down (so the luck pours onto you); in others, it is hung points up (so the luck doesn't fall out); still in others it doesn't matter. In all traditions, luck is contained in the shoe and can pour out through the ends.

One theory concerning the placing of horseshoes above doorways is to ward off Faeries (the Celtic/Welsh kind); the theory being that Faeries are repelled by iron and as horseshoes were an easily available source of iron, they could be nailed above a door to prevent any unwanted, otherworldly guests. One can see how the custom, as people began to forget the stories concerning the Fair Folk, eventually morphed into a simple good luck charm. It is also possible that the Romans, when arriving in Celtic countries, came across horseshoes nailed above doors and simply borrowed the concept of horseshoes as good luck charms, failing to understand the background of the Celtic custom, and made their use more widespread.

Another reputed origin of the tradition of lucky horseshoes is the story of Saint Dunstan and the Devil. Dunstan, who would become 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 horse. 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.

Wikipedia page on Horseshoes - For Luck.
Superstition Bash page on Lucky Horseshoes.
The Mystica page on Lucky Horseshoes.

Calon Lân - Heart Symbol

Mae pob Llwy Garu yn cynnwys nifer o symbolau sydd yn rhoi ystyr unigryw iddi. Un o'r symbolau mwyaf cyson i'w weld yw'r galon (♥). Rydym wedi gwneud peth ymchwil i darddiad y symbol ei hunan, a'i gysylltiad gyda cariad neu Serch, a dyma'r canlyniad...

Every Welsh love Spoon features many symbols, that give the spoon an unique meaning. One of the most consistent symbols featured on the Lovespoon, is the heart (♥). We have researched the origin of the heart symbol, and its connections with Love and affection. Here are our findings...

Press here to view our full collection of Celtic Love Spoons.

The symbol of the heart is an ancient one, and difficult to trace.

It certainly makes sense that the heart was thought to be the centre of emotions; haven't we all felt pangs in our heart when we're sad and skips in the heart when we're excited? But why was the heart shape chosen to represent the organ, when certainly even the ancients knew better?

Perhaps the first known use of the heart shape comes from the 7th century BC, in the North African city-state of Cyrene. In that city, at that time, Silphium was a plant so highly prized for it's use as birth control that it became extinct. The seeds of Silphium were shaped like hearts making historians believe that the heart shape we know today was based upon this early form of birth control.

Some historians have tried to argue that the heart shape originated with the Ancient Egyptian concept of the 'soul' or ab, "the heart... the source of good and evil within a person, the moral awareness and centre of thought that could leave the body at will, and live with the gods after death, or be eaten by Ammut as the final death if it failed to weigh equally against Ma'at."

Much later, heart symbols show up in stained glass windows, symbolizing the soul or love of Jesus - perhaps because the Roman Centurion who pierced Jesus' heart at the time of the crucifixion saw blood and water flow from Christ's heart. Later still, the Catholic Church claimed the symbol of the heart originated with St. Margaret Marie Alacoque, who had a vision in the 17th century where she saw a heart shape surrounded by a crown of thorns.

For further information on the heart symbol, please visit the wikipedia 'Heart Symbol' page.

Llosgi Llwy Garu - Welsh Lovespoon Engraving

Ychwanegu i'r Casgliad - New Lovespoons added to collection

Mae 9 Llwy Garu newydd wedi'u hychwanegu i gasgliad Llwyau Caru Cadwyn. Pwyswch ar y llun isod i ddarllen mwy am y llwyau unigol.

We have added 9 new Welsh Lovespoons to the Cadwyn Collection. Press on the image above to get more information.

Ffafrau Priodas - Wedding Favours

Rydym wedi ychwanegu 2 gynllun newydd i'n casgliad o Lwyau Caru bach, sy'n addas fel anrhegion gan y briodferch (Ffafrau Priodas). Mae'r cynlluniau newydd (a + c) ychydig yn fwy o faint, ac mae modd llosgi byrfoddau enwau'r priodfab a'r briodferch er mwyn sicrhau anrheg personol na chaiff ei anghofio. Pwyswch yma am fwy o wybodaeth...

We have added two new designs to our collection of mini Love Spoons that are suitable to be given as Wedding Favours. The new designs (a + c) are slightly larger and the initial of the first name of the bride and groom can be engraved on to the mini-lovespoons, to ensure that the wedding favours are truly unique, and will never be forgotten. Press here for further details...