Where the name ladybug comes from
In Britain, ladybugs were “Our Lady's birds”, named for the Virgin Mary, who was often painted wearing red. The seven spots of the common European ladybug were said to stand for her seven joys and seven sorrows. In Germany, it's still called Marienkäfer, “Mary-beetle” (Wikipedia: Coccinellidae). So from the start, a ladybug has been a little blessing.
A ladybug landing on you
This is the classic lucky sign: a ladybug landing on you means good luck is coming, and many say to make a wish before it flies away. The direction it flies is said to be where your luck, or your love, will come from.
- On your hand: luck in something you're working on.
- On your head or face: a clear thought, a fresh idea or good news.
- On your shoulder: support and protection; you're not carrying it alone.
A ladybug in your house, or on your car
A ladybug in the house is welcomed as a sign of a happy, protected home and good fortune for everyone in it. Many say never to harm one. A ladybug on your car is read as a sign of safe travels and luck on the road ahead.
Ladybug meaning in love, pregnancy and fertility
In European folklore, ladybugs were thought to be matchmakers (Wikipedia: Coccinellidae), so a ladybug is a classic sign of new love or of love growing. For people who follow the idea of twin flames, it's read as a sign of a happy meeting.
Many people trying for a baby take a ladybug as a sweet sign of fertility and a child on the way.
Ladybugs and loved ones who have passed
Because of their link with Mary and with blessings, many people take a ladybug that appears after a loss as a gentle hello from a loved one. See more signs from loved ones.
Do a ladybug's spots mean anything?
Folklore says the number of spots shows how many months until your wish comes true, or how many good months are ahead. In nature, the spots don't show a ladybug's age (Wikipedia: Coccinellidae). A ladybug with no spots, or an orange one, is often read the same way: a happy sign, with orange adding creativity and joy.
What to do when a ladybug lands on you
- Stay still and let it rest.
- Make a wish.
- Let it fly away on its own, and notice which way it goes.
- Write your wish down. The 30-Night Journal has space for exactly this.
