‘There’s an elephant in the room’ means there’s a topic about which everyone present knows and is probably longing to discuss but no-one dares to raise the subject.
There are three elephants in my house – not live ones, of course. My house is far too small to accommodate pachyderms though I understand that pachydermata is an outdated term. Elephants are now classified as Loxodonta or African Elephants or Elephas maximus, the Asian Elephant. I still like pachyderm!
If you have an elephant in your house you must make sure it faces east or a window or a door otherwise bad luck will ensue. How do these superstitions arise, I wonder?
Ornamental elephants are believed to bring good luck, particularly if their trunks are raised. Wooden elephants are thought to be the luckiest and it’s good to have them in groups of nine and placed in an ‘area of wealth’ in your home, whatever that means or wherever it is. (My greatest wealth lies in my children – ‘kindergeld’ as one German gentleman told me when I was living in Germany with three small children, though I gather kindergeld means something rather different – a form of child allowance, I believe.)
Of my elephants, two are African and one is Asian. The two Loxodonta (showing off again!!) both have their trunks raised but the Asian elephant is wooden. I think I’m receiving a lot of luck but it seems that I must acquire six more really to feel Fortune smiling on me *wink*
I do love your posts, always a smile ... and I learn something too! :o)
ReplyDeleteI'm moving my elephants to face the right direction!
ReplyDeleteEllie Garratt
I've got lots of elephants...umm pachyderms too and all have their trunks facing the right way. :-)
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about the groups of nine though!
By the way, the way to find the wealth corner in any room is to stand in the rooms doorway and it is the furthest left corner from the door. (I wrote something about it on my last blog post here - http://joyfrequencies.blogspot.com/ - if you are interested.)
I'm with Deborah, I am enjoying these posts! :-)
I have a friend who collected elephants. I gave her one to add to her collection. Now you've explained to me why she liked collecting them.
ReplyDeleteI wonder about the origins of these good luck charms.
ReplyDeleteThe elephant in our house has to do with me, tomatoes and a mess :)
ReplyDeleteI like the term pachyderm too.
ReplyDeleteA-Z Fellow Challenger
Holly Ruggiero’s POV
I love the use of "The Elephant in the Room"! http://www.elephantroomcards.com
ReplyDeleteI have no elephants, alas. I'm sure I would be far luckier if I collected a few.
ReplyDeleteSuperstitions are always interesting. If it really worked, I'd fill my house with elephants!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you and your Kindergeld!
ReplyDeleteMr. Jenny's elephant's trunk is raised high, so I guess we're in for some good luck!
When I was a young child my mother would frequently say to me, "You have a memory like an elephant." Ever since that time I have always had an affinity for elephants. I have one odd elephant figurine in my office and I had to look up at it when I read your post. It's usually facing east, but now it's facing the door. I was showing it to my granddaughter the other night when she was crying and placed in the opposite direction that it is usually in--guess it's okay the way it is now.
ReplyDeleteLee
Tossing It Out
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