A Tale of Two Billikens

This is a tale of two Billikens.  A story of love, loss, aging memories, and a mysterious little charm.

My mother was a voracious traveler. Any excuse to run away from home became a cause to pack her bags and head out on an adventure. She began her traveling shortly after high school, taking the train with friends to various cities around the country in the late 1930s and early 40s. Her wanderlust never subsided throughout her life. In fact, when she passed away at 93, she was scheduled to be on a cruise the following week. 

As a kid, I was often able to travel with her. My most precious memory of our travels was a trip she and I took to Alaska when I was about 15 or 16. I have several souvenirs purchased on that trip that I cherish for the memories and would never sell. But being a vintage seller also means that I do on occasion sell items from my own or my family’s past. 

I came upon this Alaskan Billiken last year which I remember belonging to my mother but have no recollection of purchasing it on the trip I took with her. Since she took multiple trips to Alaska, I surmised that it must have been from a trip I did not accompany her on. Meaning I had no personal connection to the piece. So it was put up for sale in my shop.

Well, the Billiken sold quickly, and here is where the story begins. The tale of two Billikens.

Off he went to his new home, and I shortly thereafter received a lovely thank you note from the new owner. The woman who purchased him began corresponding with me regarding her purchase. She mentioned how pleased she was to find him and that he held dear memories for her. She said she would soon tell me the story of how and why this little charm meant so much to her.

Several weeks later I received a message from her. She began by telling me when she first began to date her husband, he had recently been stationed in Alaska. Given the time, this was most likely during the Korean War years in the early 1950s. He had given her an Alaskan Billiken along with a note explaining its meaning to her at the time. The note and Billiken got tucked away and life moved on.

They were married and had several children, at least two boys, and a girl. Sadly, they lost their two sons. One at the young age of 13 and the other at 35. After 63 years of marriage, her husband had recently passed away. In going through his things she came across the note about the Billiken. The original item was long lost, but the note and memories remained.

That’s when she started to search for one to replace her original and found the one on my website. She was so thrilled to find him, as here was a tangible item to remind her of her early days with her husband along with his handwritten note from years ago. When she received him, she was thrilled to note his tiny gold spot on his belly. One of the tales told in Alaska about the Billiken is that rubbing his tummy will bring good luck.  The saying goes like this : “Rub his tummy, tickle his toes, good luck follows wherever he goes.”

 This sweet little charmer now proudly snuggles between two angel charms representing her two lost sons and hangs around her neck as a reminder of those lost loves. And so ends the tale of two Billikens.

Stories like this are exactly why I chose to sell vintage jewelry. Small items that can be meaningless to one person can hold a world of memories for someone else. I’m so glad to be able to provide this lovely woman with memories of her beloved husband and sons.

The story of the Billiken is an interesting one on its own. Created about 1907 by Florence Pretz and marketed as “The God of Things as they Ought to Be,” Billikens have become everything from mascots of sports teams and universities to good luck charms in several places around the world. Billikens are alternately known in Japan as the bearers of good luck and happiness.

For more Billiken stories and their history here are a few articles to take a peek at. These sites include the fascinating history of Florence Pretz, the creator and the strange twists her creation has taken over the years.

Florence Pretz Smalley The Billiken Archive

Wikipedia/Billikens

Mondo Mascots/Billikens

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