History

The history of the Neapolitan horn has very deep and, above all, very ancient roots.
Symbolically, Neapolitan culture is not the only one to have embraced this particular object: in fact, we can find traces of it in Sumerian and Chinese culture, and even in Siberian shamanic culture.
Its meaning as a good-luck charm dates back roughly to 3500 BC, when the horns of hunted animals were displayed in caves. At the time, according to scholars and anthropologists, the meaning of this ritual was to show off the strength of the cave's inhabitants and the prosperity of the family.
Moving forward through the centuries, the symbolism of the horn became increasingly linked to the feats of peoples in battle (especially the Vikings), becoming an ornamental element on the headgear worn in war.
Coming to more recent times, historians have often associated the Neapolitan horn with sexual potency:
the Neapolitan horn is said to represent the phallus of Priapus (God of Prosperity), whom the Greeks considered a protector against bad luck.
These beliefs also reached the Romans in the following centuries, and the discovery of such objects in the excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum is clear evidence of this.

The rules
According to Neapolitans, there are a few “rules” to follow so that the object “works” as a lucky charm or protection against bad luck.
First of all, the Neapolitan horn must be made by hand.
Handmade so that the artisan who makes it releases their “positive energy” into the object created.
But the main “rule” is that you can't give yourself a Neapolitan horn!
Absolutely forbidden!
For the object to work, it must always, no matter what, be received as a gift!

Saint Gennaro, Saint Jerome, Saint Crispin, Saint Justin, use my little horn, give it fire, give it wind. Saint Gennaro, Saint Jerome, use my little horn. Saint Crispin, Saint Justin, let me win some coin. Saint Euphemia, Saint Assunta, do not tremble at the adding. In my purse my little coin, the little horn to the holy card.

source: Rogiosi editore