The Neapolitan horn is one of the most popular and loved amulets. At first, it was so loved especially by the Neapolitan people. But now it is loved by people from all over the world!
The Napoli horn, as well as one of the objects more often offered as presents, represents the symbol of life keeping away malignant influences. Napoli gathers and multiplies all the superstitions of the world, as the writer Matilde Serao said.
About the Neapolitan Horn
Why the Neapolitan horn is so important as a symbol? The superstition is the irrational belief that future events can be affected by particular behaviors and objects. When a person is believed to have a negative influence just looking at you, this is called an evil eye. Over the centuries various amulets have been used in Naples against negative energies: the Naples horn, the horseshoe, the wreath of garlic, salt and pepper, and others.
Definitely the horn is the most popular and representative lucky charm. It has always been an integral part of Neapolitan culture and traditions that can be easily found in the homes of the Neapolitans.
The origin of the Neapolitan horn dates back to the Neolithic Age when the inhabitants of the huts used to hang the animal horns on the door as a symbol of fertility, which was associated with luck.
Later in the ancient Egypt it was a vote offered to the goddess Isis to assist animals in procreation and during the Renaissance it had to be red and handmade to bring luck. Also according to the Neapolitan superstition the horn must be red, hard, twisted and…broken! If you want to choose a Neapolitan souvenir, opt for a red horn!
Why Napoli horn is red? The color and the material of the horn really depends on what is sacred about. If the horn is coral, it is sacred to Venus. She is a goddess of love, fertility, sex, and prosperity. If the horn is silver-made, that means that it is sacred to Luna, goddess of the moon. The red color is usually a reference to Priapus, a fertility god.
Furthermore the Napoli horn must be handmade to acquire beneficial power out of the hands of those who have produced and presented it.
The horn is the perfect souvenir for you or for your friends!