Dictionary.com's definitions of fortune:
1. position in life as determined by wealth: to make one's fortune.
2. wealth or riches
3. chance; luck: They each had the bad fortune to marry the wrong person.
4. fortunes. things that happen or are to happen to a person in his or her life.
5. fate; lot; destiny: whatever my fortune may be.
Dictionary.com
Good Fortune:
1. an auspicious state resulting from favorable outcomes
2. a stroke of luck
Described by audioenglish.net as good luck, prosperity, and successfulness.
http://www.audioenglish.net/dictionary/good_fortune.htm
Bad Luck:
1. an unfortunate state resulting from unfavorable outcomes
2. an unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate
3. unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
Described by audioenglish.net as misfortune.
http://www.audioenglish.net/dictionary/bad_luck.htm
The differences between fortune and luck:
the word "fortune" is usually used to describe a good event or a favorable outcome that occurs. It can be predicted, typically by a fortune teller or a tarot card reader. Those who believe in fortune believe that it is destiny, and is not cooincidental.
The word "luck" can be used in a positive or a negative connotation, however, when describing the opposite effect of good fortune, "bad luck" is the correct term to use. Bad luck may be predicted as well by a fortune teller. It is not as often that negative predictions are made, but it is possible.
In fortune telling, nothing is actually set in stone. It is the choice of those who practice in this activity to believe weather or not their fortune determines their future. Some believe that fortune telling is a science, others believe it is a mere prediction, and some don't believe in the practice at all.
Nigerians believe that gods bring good fortune to those who worship them.
If your god disappoints you or doesn't satisfy whatever wants or needs you may have, you are allowed to pledge alliegance to another, or add a new one to their worship whom they believe will bring them better fortune.Certain emergencies may call for more attention to one god instead of another. For instance, war and violent situations will privilege the worship of Ogun, the god of iron; prolonged rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning will privilege Sango; if rivers overflow and floods are expected, this is the time for Oya, the river goddess.
Falola, Toyin. Culture & Customs of Nigeria.
Westport, CT, USA: Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated, 2000. p 53.
http://site.ebrary.com/lib/frederick/Doc?id=10017928&ppg=53
Copyright © 2000. Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
Many people believe that certain objects bring them good luck or fortune, and the objects differ in symbol and meaning from one region of the world to another.
Insects
In many asian countries such as China, a cricket serves as a watchdog. These natives believe that when there is danger, the cricket stops chirping. It is considered unlucky to kill a cricket in many European countries and in the far east.
Ladybugs bring good luck and prosperity to your daily life. Their spots indicate how lucky they are.
Lucky Charms
"For each petal on the shamrock this brings a wish your way. Good health, good luck, and happiness for today and every day." - Irish Blessing
Many people believe that wearing charms representing lucky symbols such as turtles, shamrocks, four-leaf clovers, or horseshoes will bring them good luck.
Acorns, rainbows, and eggs are all believed to be good luck symbols found in nature. Eggs represent fertility, purity and rebirth. Rainbows are considered lucky because of the idea which originated with the Irish that at the end of a rainbow, there is a pot of gold. In Nore folklore, the vikings associated acorns and the oak tree with good luck because it protects them from the lightining's wrath.
Animals
Dolphins are considered lucky in Ancient Greece cultures, Sumer, Egypt, and Rome.
Pigs are considered lucky to German-natives because they are a symbol of wealth, good fortune, and prosperity.
Other animals that are believed in certain cultures to be lucky are tortoises, elephants, tigers, rabbit's feet, alligator teeth, and frogs.
There are many different techniques for fortune telling. Fortune telling was practiced in ancient China, Egypt, Chaldea, and Babylonia as long ago as 4000 BC. These fortune telling predictions played an important role in ancient religion and medicine. Some of the methods used in fortune telling are astrology, numerology, and the utilization of objects such as playing cards, tea leaves, crystal balls, etc...
Fortune telling is often associated with character analysis, and can take such forms as graphology (the study of handwriting), physiognomy (study of facial characteristics), phrenology (study of contours on the skull), and palmistry (study of the lines on the plam of the hand).
Fortune tellers are often portrayed as gypsies dressed in colorful garments and scarves, and gaudy jewelry.
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