Avoiding Walking Under Ladders

Why Passing Beneath Ladders Is Considered Bad Luck

Details

Walking under a leaning ladder is considered extremely unlucky in Western cultures. People will often take extra steps to go around a ladder rather than pass beneath it, even when no practical danger exists.

Historical Context

This common superstition originates from multiple sources:
• Ancient Egyptian belief that triangular shapes (formed by a leaning ladder) were sacred
• Medieval Christian symbolism associating the ladder with Jesus’s crucifixion
• Practical medieval concerns, as criminals were executed on ladders before the invention of the gallows

Each interpretation warned that disrupting the sacred triangle or space beneath a ladder would bring misfortune.

Modern Relevance

This remains one of the most widely followed superstitions in Western society. A 2019 YouGov poll found that 14% of Americans actively avoid walking under ladders. While safety concerns provide a practical reason for this behavior, many people admit to avoiding ladders specifically due to superstitious beliefs.

Sources

Opie, I. & Tatem, M. (1992). A Dictionary of Superstitions. Oxford University Press.
Radford, B. (2012). The Skeptical Inquirer: Why People Believe Weird Things. Center for Inquiry.