What Makes Chimney Sweeps Lucky?

What Makes Chimney Sweeps Lucky?

 

In the UK, chimney sweeps have been considered lucky for hundreds of years, and in some places, it’s still believed that they carry luck today. To find out why, we’re sharing some popular beliefs dating back to medieval times and looking more into the history of one of the UK’s oldest professions…

 

Medieval heroes

During Medieval times, fire was one of life’s main essentials.

Without fire, you were unable to cook or heat your home, two of the most important factors of survival. Without properly maintaining the chimney, homeowners were also at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which untreated can be deadly. Sadly, due to the lack of medical resources at this time, carbon monoxide wasn’t an unusual cause of death. The only figure that could keep a fire going and reduce the chances of carbon monoxide poisoning was a chimney sweep.

 

Strength and balance

There’s no hiding that chimney sweeps were unusually flexible and had incredible strength and balance. Chimney sweeps would balance and dance precariously on rooftops and dangled down chimneys yet lived to tell the tale. Passers-by would watch them on edge and believed it must have been luck, or some sort of immortality, that protected them from falling and getting injured.

 

 

Another legend claimed that a chimney sweep once slipped and managed to save his fall by grabbing hold of the guttering. A young woman pulled him in through the window, but he was completely unharmed. Without luck, it was highly likely that he would’ve fallen to his death. Although the woman was engaged, she fell in love with the chimney sweep and they went on to be married.

 

Royal acknowledgement

During the 1700s, it’s believed that a chimney sweep saved the life of King George II by stopping his runaway horse and carriage. The king issued a Royal Decree that Chimney Sweeps are bringers of good luck and that they should be treated with the greatest of respect.

 

Weddings

Seeing a chimney sweep on your wedding day is seen to be a lucky omen to this day, and many brides and grooms still choose to invite a chimney sweep to attend. In the footage of Queen Elizabeth getting married to the Duke of Edinburgh, you can see a chimney sweep shaking the hand of Prince Philip outside of Kensington Palace. Some couples still believe it’s good luck for the groom to shake the chimney sweep’s hand, and for the sweep to kiss the bride on the cheek. Some chimney sweeps now even make themselves available for hire at weddings or receptions.

 

 

Lucky buttons

Across Europe, chimney sweeps still wear the traditional all-black uniform with a top hat or cap. It’s said to be considered good luck to rub or grasp one of your buttons if you pass one in the street. There’s one to remember next time a chimney sweep passes by.

 

 

Make a wish

Last but by no means least, another lucky tradition is to make a wish when you see a chimney sweep brush poking out of the top of a chimney. This originates from young boys climbing chimneys with a hand brush back in the day. People believed it was luck that helped the young boys to survive in the conditions they did.

 

 

To give yourself some luck, we recommend that you book in for a chimney sweep at least once a year to ensure that your chimney is in perfect condition.

When we arrive to do the job, we’ll happily shake your hand for luck!

To book an appointment or talk to a chimney sweep, contact our team today, we’d be more than happy to help