March 17, 2024, 6:04 am | Read time: 3 minutes
For some, superstition is just nonsense, while for others, it’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy. For instance, it’s said that walking under a ladder brings bad luck. Yet, more and more ladders are finding their way into living spaces. Is there reason for unease? Find the answer in this article–whether you believe it or not.
Friday the 13th, a broken mirror, or black cats: According to folklore, great misfortune looms when certain things or situations occur in life. Especially during significant moments, some people completely align their actions and behavior with a (superstitious) belief to possibly influence their fate. Often, it’s a case of different cultures, different superstitions. Here, it’s said that one should not walk under a ladder, or else great misfortune will follow…
Of Luck and Misfortune
We all want to be happy, which is why we sometimes follow promising customs in daily life–whether we believe in them or not. People knock on wood three times for good luck. During a walk in the woods, finding a four-leaf clover or a ladybug in the grass brings joy. And for exams, a beloved talisman accompanies us in our pocket. If the exam is then passed with flying colors, the reason is, of course, obvious.
We also want to ward off misfortune. A broken mirror is feared just as much as a black cat crossing our path from the left. Being particularly cautious during such events or situations gives us a bit more control and security within the situation. Even if there’s no rational explanation or scientific evidence behind it all. And clearly, for superstitious people, occasional coincidences serve as proof of their beliefs, while counter-evidence is often dismissed as irrelevant.
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Why a Ladder is Said to Bring Bad Luck
A prominent example of superstition here is walking under a ladder–both in public and private spaces. Better to be cautious than to invite misfortune, as the saying goes! But why, exactly?
Here’s the explanation: The configuration of a ladder, the adjacent wall, and the ground forms a triangle, which is said to symbolize the Holy Trinity. Walking carelessly through it is believed to violate this sacred space, ensuring a fate of misfortune.
Ladders in Everyday Life: A Problem?
Now to the actual “problem”: Where ladders were once only used for renovations, they are now as integral to home decor as cushions on a sofa. Whether in the bathroom as a towel rack, spice shelf in the kitchen, plant trellis, or an aid to reach the top book on an XXL bookshelf–a ladder is a perfect everyday helper for almost any room.
But there’s hardly any reason to fear them here, as these ladders are rarely large enough to walk under. Their size is too small, and the distance to the wall is too short to pass beneath them. Lucky us!