billiken: the ‘god of things as they ought to be’
A few years ago, my husband and I spotted a weird, smiling little Buddha-esque figure on the edifice of a building in downtown LA. It definitely wasn’t a gargoyle, but what in the heck was it? Turns out, the cherubic, pointy-headed figure was a Billiken, the “god of things as they ought to be.” Invented in 1908 in St. Louis by Florence Pretz, Billikens were little figures thought to bring good luck to the owner, though the luck was even greater if the Billiken was a gift. They were cast into iron banks and printed on post cards (which you can find on eBay) and soon swept the globe in popularity, making their way up to Alaska and Japan via the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exhibition. The Billiken is even the mascot of St. Louis University. I think they’re a really cool piece of Americana, and I’m pretty sure our Billiken, a gift from my mom, has brought us a lot of good fortune! For more great images and information on Billikens, click here. –Megan B.
Apparently, it is also the inspiration for the Bud Billiken Parade held on the South Side of Chicago every year. It’s televised and everything! And here, all these years, I though Bud Billiken was a person. I love history!
Most good luck charms, I believe, are more potent when given as a gift. Even wind chimes. My relatives would often hint when they wanted it for christmas, which I believe defeats the purpose.
Just read a poem today, title I guess is L’Envoi, (not clear)
Poem by Rudyard Kiplin
the last line says “For the God of Things as They are.”