Charms and meanings

The blue eye you see all over Turkey and Greece has a story going back to ancient Greek and Roman writers. Where the belief in the evil eye comes from, how and where nazar beads are made, why they are blue, and why the colour-meaning charts online have no real source.

For centuries the English nailed horseshoes by their doors. But why, which way up, and how old is the story of St Dunstan shoeing the Devil? We went back to old records and museum collections to find out.

Horseshoe, hamsa, evil eye or heart: each charm carries its own story and belief. Get to know all nine, with ideas for choosing one as a gift.