My question has to do with Puerto Rican culture. – Glass elephant faces the wall or corner of room. Why?
People often place little glass, decrative figures in the homes, such as little glass angles or animals… often on top of shevles or on coffee tables. You can notice that many Puerto Rican people will put the glass decrative elephants facing the wall. I dont’ really know why this is done, but the elephant has to face the wall or the corner of the room. It is supposted to be for good luck I think. Does anyone know why this is done or the tradition behind it. My mother, grandmother, and aunts all do this. I’m pretty sure that it is only a traditon amongst Puerto Ricans, but I could be wrong. Anyone know?
HighMaintenance
on November 30th, -0001
Well I’m Mexican and the tradition I have heard and seen is that it’s 3 elephants facing the front door. One is bought, the other one is given to you as a gift and the last one is found in no particular order but once you have them face them towards your front door it should bring you good luck and wealth something like that!!!
MindsEye
on November 30th, -0001
Get over it!
Fly
on November 30th, -0001
glass menageries
FollowTheLeader
on November 30th, -0001
Just last night while visiting my sister, she said the elephant’s butt has to face the room for good luck. She went up north, but I’ll ask her where she heard it from when she gets back.
Bambi
on November 30th, -0001
Where do the other animals face, better still where else could they face but a wall or corner. Possibly they are not sure which is the tail and which is the trunk. I will stick with your rum, it’s less confusing than your customs.
Tina
on November 28th, 2011
The butt is suppose to face your front door. Even if you have two doors to enter your home, the butt is suppose to face what is considered the front door. The symbolism behind it is that it will keep bad away. Be it bad people, bad thought, bad intentions. I have never heard of there being a specific number of elephants your suppose to have.
Alexis Smith
on November 2nd, 2012
it depends on the culture… the butt needs to be pointed at the front door of the house no matter where in the house the elephant is located. Sometimes this causes the elephant to face a wall lol.. i always try to find spots in the house where my elephants dont look like they are in time out. Oh and I’ve always known this to be cuban- but im sure the reason must be the same for puerto rican. My colombian friends say that there should always be 3 elephants- 1 given to you, 1 you purchased, and one you stole. the last may be tricky so i stole one from my mom.
Sami
on May 6th, 2016
the elephants are to face the main roads. That’s how it goes. That is what my mom always told us. We had them all over…we are from Rio Piedras, PR.
tara
on August 21st, 2016
I’m Dominican and my family did this too lol. Never heard about a specific number but the butt goes towards the front door for luck and to keep the bad away.