Ladders are known for causing bad luck if you walk under them. It’s interesting to see how superstitions are created and carry on even into the modern day. We know not to stand under one, but many people still don’t know why that is. How did the ladder come to be seen as a symbol of bad luck, and why is standing under one so bad? In this article, we will explore the origin of this superstition.

Of course, walking under a ladder is generally unsafe and not advised, but there is more to this superstition than safety precautions. There are actually several theories with regards to where this interesting belief originated.

Christianity and Ladders

Curiously, one of the theories originates with Christianity. It is believed that the Holy Trinity forms a triangle as it has three points (just as the number 3 is seen as holy), making this shape a holy and sacred one. Of course, when a ladder is leaning against a wall, it forms a triangle. So the theory goes that if you walk under the ladder you are breaking the Holy Trinity and committing blasphemy, one of the worst possible sins. Blasphemy is one of the unforgivable sins, and so to walk under a ladder and break the triangle, you are seen to be in league with the devil! This was commonly the basis for hangings and witch burnings/drownings when people were seen doing this.

Ancient Egypt

It is possible the superstition originated in ancient Egypt as well. The ladder was symbolic in this culture because it was used to help souls reach the afterlife. Ladders would be placed in or near the tombs of the deceased so that they could make their way up it. By standing under one of these ladders you were effectively preventing a soul from making their journey and so they would curse you with bad luck for seven years. The numbers three and seven are often present in religion, so it is quite possible that both the Christian and Egyptian origins have merit.

Medieval Period

Another potential origin is the similarity in appearance to a ladder leaning against the wall and the appearance of the gallows. Of course, anything associated with the gallows was thought to bring ill fortune and so walking under a ladder was then taken as a sign of bad luck. To counter this, people spat on their shoes or the rungs of the ladder three times. However, if they looked at their shoe or the rung before the spit had dried it would not work. You could also cross your fingers until you came across a dog to counter the effect.

It is interesting to see how many different origin stories there are for the reason that walking under ladders causes bad luck. Humans are creatures of habit and most of us have our own little superstitions that we follow, even if we don’t quite believe them. They stay with us even today because they have been passed down for so many years. Even if not everyone believes them, many of us will still be careful when it comes to stepping under a ladder. You may even see a few crossed fingers, but hopefully not too much spit on shoes!