The Cowboy Santa is about 4¼ inches tall and 2½ inches wide. He is wearing a brown Cowboy Hat with a dark red band, orange vest over a yellow shirt with a dark green bandana, dark red pants and brown boots and brown gauntlet style gloves. The Cowboy Santa is holding a Cattle Skull and a chain of Horseshoes. Select this link to view our Western Christmas Ornaments.
Cowboys.
During the 16th century, the Conquistadors and other Spanish settlers brought their cattle raising traditions as well as their horses and cattle to the Americas, starting with their arrival in what today is Mexico and Florida. The traditions of Spain were transformed by the geographic, environmental and cultural circumstances of New Spain, which later became Mexico and the southwestern United States. In turn, the land and people of the Americas also saw dramatic changes due to Spanish influence. Select this link to view our Western Santa.
As English speaking traders and settlers moved into the Western United States, English and Spanish traditions, language and culture merged to some degree, with the vaquero tradition providing the foundation of the American cowboy. Before the Mexican American War in 1848, New England merchants who traveled by ship to California encountered both hacendados and vaqueros, trading manufactured goods for the hides and tallow produced from vast cattle ranches. American traders along what later became known as the Santa Fe Trail had similar contacts with vaquero life. Starting with these early encounters, the lifestyle and lingo of the vaquero began a transformation which merged with English cultural traditions and produced what became known in American culture as the "cowboy". Select this link to view our Cattle Skull on Wagon Wheel.
What are Horseshoes?
A horseshoe is a "U" shaped item made of metal or of modern synthetic materials, nailed or glued to the hooves of horses and some other draught animals. Like a shoe on a human, it is used to protect the animal's feet from wear and tear. Professional horseshoers, called farriers, usually place horseshoes on the outer surface of the hoof by nailing through the insensitive hoof wall, which is similar to the human toenail, though much larger and thicker. Some horseshoes have protrusions at the toe or heels of the shoe, to provide additional traction. Select this link to view our Clay Ornaments.
Horseshoes are considered a good luck charm in many cultures. The shape, fabrication, placement, and manner of sourcing are all important. A common tradition is that if a horseshoe is hung on a door with the two ends pointing up then good luck will occur. However, if the two ends point downwards then bad luck will occur. Traditions do differ on this point, though. In some cultures, the horseshoe is hung points down, so the luck pours onto you. In others, it is hung points up, so the luck doesn't fall out. Still in others it doesn't matter so long as the horseshoe has been used, not new, was found, not purchased, and can be touched. In all traditions, luck is contained in the shoe and can pour out through the ends. Select this link to view our Cowboy Jiggle Down.