[Lee Stewart]

Horseshoes are considered symbols of good luck because of a Christian story about the 10th century saint Dunstan. He was a blacksmith who was approached by the Devil (in disguise) to put shoes on his horse but Dunstan saw through the disguise and put the shoes on the Devil’s feet instead. Dunstan agreed to remove the shoes only if the Devil agreed never to try and enter a home with a horseshoe hanging on its door. It is customary to hang your horseshoe with seven nails, but there is some debate over whether they should be hung with the ends point up so the shoe catches luck or down so that the shoe pours luck onto everyone who passes through the doorway.