A lucky charm is a symbol of good luck and positive energy. It's often seen as a small gift that brings happiness and prosperity to the recipient. The lucky charm isn't just a physical object; it also has symbolic meaning. It represents hope, prosperity, and optimism, and it also reinforces positive thoughts and intentions. Looking at or holding a lucky charm reminds you of the power of believing in luck. Lucky charms are therefore a popular gift for special occasions or to buy for yourself as a personal talisman. There are various lucky charms available, from wooden lucky charms to keychains with a name or message. Either way, owning a lucky charm can have a positive effect on your mood and remind you to keep believing in luck.

There are so many different lucky charms (we have over 250!), and it's interesting to see where they originated. The lucky charms we know today have each acquired their own meaning. For example, the lucky ladybug has become a symbol against violence!

These sweet wooden lucky charms are meant as a simple talisman, wishing you good things like health and love. Because while they may be small, they represent the power of small things! In the 1970s (my childhood), you could already buy lucky charms in Chinese stores. You could buy them individually or in a bag, and we used to hang them on our school bags and key rings. They're often just kept in someone's pocket, so you can always have a lucky charm with you. The origins of lucky charms, of course, go back much further.

What is the symbolism of a lucky doll?

There are several versions of the original meaning of lucky charms. One version says that lucky charms originated with the Mayan people, who gave them as gifts to loved ones so they could place them under their pillow to soothe their worries while they slept.

Another version of the origin of lucky charms is that they originated in Bangladesh and that a lucky charm was given to children. These children would place the lucky charm under their pillow, also to ease their worries.

And in China, it's different again. For the Chinese, it's all about the material of the lucky charm—what is it made of? And not so much about the "shape" of the lucky charm. The original lucky charms are made of bamboo, a plant associated in China with strength, prosperity, feng shui, longevity, and, of course, happiness!

In Mexico, the lucky dolls are called wish dolls, and in Japan they are called Kokeshi dolls or Kimmidolls; these dolls wear a kimono and the traditional Japanese hairstyle.

In both Guatemala and Mexico, people wear wish bracelets with small lucky dolls attached. These are called Chinitos de la Suerte, which means Lucky dolls or Fortune dolls, as we know the Chinese lucky doll.

Lucky charms were also used in France during the First World War. These small woolen lucky charms were given to soldiers to ensure their safe return home. They were called Nenette and Rintintin.

Wherever they come from, all lucky charms have just one purpose: to bring a little bit of happiness. Everyone will be thrilled to receive this little gift. Almost everyone knows them, the little lucky charms!

Lucky dolls as a talisman

So it seems all versions share the same idea: a small lucky talisman accessible to everyone because it doesn't have a monetary value, only a genuine emotional value. This aligns with our own vision, as we collaborate extensively with daycare centers for people with disabilities. With us, all happiness, so double happiness, is because we practice Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

All the keychains are made by people with disabilities, and they're incredibly happy with them. It's a real added value to our lucky charms. And they don't just make the keychains; everyone contributes what they can at their own level. For example, one person can easily count to 50 and can package the lucky charms in sets of 50 and the cards in sets of 25. Another person makes the goodie bags that we send with lucky charm orders, if someone chooses. And so, there are so many other lucky items (and even more) that receive the kind attention they deserve. So, with our lucky charms, you're spreading double the happiness!

These days, we use lucky charms during the day, as a small gesture, for example, as a treat, a thank-you note at school farewell, on a key ring, in a card for someone sick or a new baby, as a grab bag gift, or as a thank-you at a wedding. They're lovely little gifts, so there are plenty of reasons to always have these little things in stock so you can always make someone happy—a small gesture, big happiness! This is a small gift with a grand gesture. And besides the original wooden lucky charms, we also have genuine silver and gold-plated lucky charms and unique lucky charms that we have specially made for us, so you can be sure you're ordering unique happiness!

And what we're increasingly seeing is that after the death of a loved one, a lucky charm is given as a memento at the funeral or cremation. Or, for example, everyone receives a keychain with a name attached to the lucky charm, so the name is seen frequently. This provides great comfort.

Travelers often attach these lucky charms to their backpacks for a prosperous journey, so they're also a nice gift for someone who's about to embark on a wonderful trip. We have fun lucky charm suitcases, a globe, or a small airplane for that.

Unique lucky dolls

Designer It'sa Mo!design was asked to create a series of cards featuring these charming wooden dolls. But it didn't stop there. Mo and we are still developing fun, trendy, and new lucky doll products, ensuring there's always something new to look forward to!

We offer lucky doll pens, lucky doll notepads, baby shower cards, congratulations cards, get-well cards, and of course, our own lucky doll keychains, which we can customize for you. Now that we also offer our own unique scratch-off stickers, it can be a lot of fun for the recipient to scratch off the message on the lucky card first.

There are " happiness is there for the taking " cards. You can order these, attach a lucky charm to them, and place them somewhere, so you're sure to bring a smile to someone's face that day from a lucky charm you've placed somewhere!

Special meanings of happiness

Besides the usual lucky dolls, there are of course various lucky dolls that also have a special meaning:

Ladybug : sign against violence

Frog: a symbol of fertility, but also of wealth and prosperity. In Roman times, the frog was used as a mascot; they believed it brought good luck to your home.

Angel: The angel plays an important role in Christianity, but also represents prosperity

Heart: The lucky heart stands for love, happiness and friendship

Lucky Owl represents wisdom, wisdom that not only he possesses, but all of us. We have several lucky owls in our collection.

The forget-me-not exudes modesty, probably due to the size of the lucky flower, and at the Alzheimer Netherlands Foundation, the forget-me-not symbolizes a future without dementia.

The rainbow lucky doll is not only for the entire LGBTI+ and LGBTQIAP community, but of course for everyone.

The Buddha lucky doll is a symbol of happiness, joy, success, wealth and prosperity.

Our lucky fairy tale lucky dolls , we already have the lucky cards in, the lucky dolls are still a little while away, did you know that it takes about a year before we have the design we make here in house?

One theory holds that matryoshka lucky dolls represent protection from mother to child. Another holds that it's simply a pet name for a Russian peasant woman.

The stork is, of course, inextricably linked to the birth of a baby. Among our lucky dolls, we have a pink and blue lucky stork version, as well as the "real" lucky stork.

The horseshoe represents luck. Our lucky charms all bring good luck, of course, but the lucky horseshoe , open at the bottom, symbolizes throwing away bad luck so you keep the good luck.

Looking back in history, the four-leaf clover dates back to the Middle Ages and was said to bring good luck to whoever found it. The four leaves of the clover symbolize a perfect union of love, trust, prosperity, and, of course, happiness. Because it has such a beautiful meaning, it is always a special lucky item.

Most clovers you encounter are three-leaf clovers, four-leaf clovers are a rare variety, and the leaves have different meanings:

• there is a leaf for hope
• a leaf for trust
• a leaf for love
• and of course a leaf for luck

"As proud as a peacock" inspired us to design a lucky peacock doll . The lucky peacock is now a beautiful lucky item in our lucky doll shop.

We also had a lucky charm made of the rainbow, called Guido, the rainbow lucky charm . The symbol of the rainbow is that there's supposed to be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.