SUPERSTITIONS: WALKING UNDER LADDERs

While most people would advise not walking under a ladder for fear of getting hurt, there are
many others who believe that this action can yield far worse consequences.

The superstition that walking under a ladder brings bad luck is one that has reached far and
wide, but the origins of this superstition are often unknown. In The Encyclopedia of
Superstitions, Richard Webster considers three possible theories behind this common belief.
Webster explains that the Holy Trinity is a powerful symbol in the Christian religion. The ladder,
when placed against a wall, forms three points which could be interpreted as a symbol for
the Holy Trinity. In earlier times, Christians believed that by walking through the ladder, the
person was breaking the trinity and opening them up to attracting the devil.

Another theory brought forth in this book dates back to ancient Egypt. Egyptians believed
strongly in the symbol of the pyramid and saw someone walking through the pyramid shape
formed by the ladder against a wall as a form of breaking its power.

Not only did early Christians and Egyptians believe in this superstition, but it also was a
common belief during the Medieval period. Some people,
during this time, thought that the leaning ladder resembled the
gallows where executions took place. At this time, anything
associated with the gallows was considered terribly bad luck.
They believed that by walking underneath a ladder, you
were essentially playing out your own execution.

You may be wondering how to turn your luck around if you

do accidentally walk under a ladder. Just as there are
many explanations for the origin of this superstition, there
are many remedies to turn your luck around. Some say
walking back through the ladder in the opposite
direction, crossing your fingers until you see a dog, or
spitting three times through the rungs of the ladder
will give you a second chance and undo your bad luck.

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SUPERSTITIONS: WALKING UNDER LADDERS
Answer the questions in complete sentences using information from the reading.

1. What are the similarities between the early Christian and the Egyptian reasons for
not walking underneath a ladder?
The similarities between the early Chistian and the Egyptian reasons for not walking underneath a
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ladder are that they both thought that walking under a ladder would break a supernatural power.
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2. Why was walking under a ladder considered bad luck in Medieval times?

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In Midieval times, walking under a ladder was bad luck because you were playing out your own
death.
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3. If you walked under a ladder, what could you do to turn

your bad luck around?
To turn your luck around you would have to spit three times
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through the rungs of the ladder cross your finger until you see a
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dog. Another way is to walk backwards in the other dircition.
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