As well as being a valued gift, the Lucky Pendant also contributes to the work of the Swedish Association of the Visually Impaired. Since 1912, the Lucky Pendant has been a popular gift, both to receive and to give.

In the early 1900's, a postmaster called Holbøll contracted an eye disease which made him temporarily blind. At this time he heard about the birth of a child and he is reported to have made a wish that all children be spared that which had happened to him. Postmaster Holbøll's eyesight eventually returned to normal, but he never forgot the difficulties he experienced while he was blind and all the problems blindness had caused him. Because of this, he wanted to help the association of the blind in a way which would help them to spread their message about the difficulties experienced by people with visual impairment.

Then he remembered the child, and he said to himself: "When do you wish someone luck and wellbeing if not at the cradle of a baby?" He contacted the association of the blind with the suggestion that a talisman be sold by the association to new parents.

The Swedish Association of the Blind adopted his idea on the 18th October 1912 and sales began immediately.

During the first year sales of the Lucky Pendant reached 10.000 SEK which, taking depreciation into account, is the equivalent of about half a million SEK today. The Association received 4/5 of the amount and the remaining 1/5 was given to the midwives' relief fund for their help in selling the pendant at the maternity wards.

The Lucky Pendant still provides support to midwives in the form of scholarships and research awards. And today, after more than 90 years, the Lucky Pendant still makes an important contribution to the Association's ambition of improving conditions for visually impaired people.

Thus, the idea of the Lucky Pendant is just as topical today as it was 90 years ago. It is a valuable gift with an invaluable meaning! And sales of the Lucky Pendant provide an important financial contribution to the Swedish Association of the Visually Impaired in our efforts to gain equality and full participation in society for all visually impaired people.

The Lucky Pendant is given from generation to generation, and you now have the opportunity to pass on this noble tradition.

Tiina Nummi-Södergren
President