“See a penny, pick it up,
All day long you’ll have good luck.” — unknown
Pennies are often just a nuisance. They don’t seem to be worth much, especially considering their weight, which is decidedly disproportionate to their actual value. So what are they really good for? Well, for centuries, finding a penny has been considered a good omen, an event that suggested something good would happen in the life of the finder. Lucky Penny Day is all about celebrating this simple superstition and doing what we can to make sure some good does, in fact, come of pennies.
The History of Lucky Penny Day
Today’s penny was modeled on the ancient Roman denarius. When the Ancient Romans invaded the part of Europe known today as England, they brought their monetary system with them. Even when the Romans departed the region several hundred years later, the idea remained, and later English coins were made to be similar to those used by the ancient Romans. The penny was officially introduced into England in 757 A.D., and they travelled to America with the first settlers. The first copper pennies as we know them today were manufactured in the United Stated in 1793, as copper was plentiful in that part of the world at the time. When exactly pennies came to be seen as lucky is unknown; however, it this is thought to have been the case for hundreds of years.
How to Celebrate Lucky Penny Day
Penny hunts can be lots of fun, contrary to popular opinion, especially if you have children to share them with. You’s be amazed at just how many places you can find pennies and other spare change in. So, why not organize a contest? Whoever finds the most change wins! This will not only serve as excellent entertainment but also help you tidy your home a little. So what are you waiting for? Time to go penny hunting! If you have more than one child and wish to make things even more fun, you could consider planting change around the house to be found. Let the best penny hunter win! But the fun doesn’t end once all of the pennies have been found—once you’ve recovered the money, you must figure out what to do with it. This is where you can get really creative because there is an infinite amount of things that can be done even with a dollar or two. Having your children contribute to the decision-making process could prove an interesting and educational experience as you could teach them the value of even small amounts of money. Together, you could decide whether you want to keep the money and save it up for something bigger, or give it to some charity. Wherever you live in the world, there are definitely tens if not hundreds of charitable organisations nearby that you can choose to donate to. So, what do your children feel especially passionate about? Less fortunate children? The sick? Homeless animals? Lucky Penny Day is the perfect time to show them the value of money, and just how far a dollar or two can go for someone truly in need. Pennies may indeed seem worthless in many cases, but Lucky Penny Day can prove to be anything but.
