what are billikens

A Billiken is a small mythical charm figure that’s meant to bring good luck and symbolize “things as they ought to be.”

Quick Scoop: What Are Billikens?

• A Billiken is a mythical good‑luck figure, often depicted as a chubby, impish creature with a pointed head and a big grin.

• It was originally created as a charm doll by American art teacher Florence Pretz around 1908, inspired by poems and turn‑of‑the‑century “mind‑cure” positivity culture.

• The Billiken became a short‑lived but intense fad in the early 1900s, appearing as dolls, candies, banks, jewelry, and even auto hood ornaments.

• Culturally, Billikens are tied to the idea that owning one brings luck, and receiving one as a gift is considered even luckier.

Billikens and Saint Louis University

• Today, the Billiken is best known as the official mascot of Saint Louis University (SLU) in St. Louis, Missouri, where it represents school spirit and a hopeful vision of how things “ought to be.”

• SLU uses “Billikens” as a nickname for its students, athletes, alumni, faculty, and staff, emphasizing community, welcome, and doing what’s right.

• The connection to SLU dates back to the early 1910s, when the football coach John Bender was said to resemble the popular Billiken figure, leading local media and fans to call the team “Bender’s Billikens.”

Other Places You’ll See Billikens

• Beyond SLU, the Billiken has appeared as a mascot for other groups, including the Royal Order of Jesters, and as a brand or namesake for companies like the Japanese toy maker Billiken Shokai.

• Museums and collections still hold original Billiken figures as examples of early‑1900s American pop culture and toy history.

In short: when people ask “what are Billikens,” they’re usually either talking about the old good‑luck charm creature, or about Saint Louis University’s quirky, grinning mascot that grew out of that charm.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.