Spring is quickly approaching and nature is once again waking up from it winter nap. Our gardens will soon be full of the lush growth and beautiful blooms of the season. And of the many welcome guests in our garden, one of our favorites is the Ladybug.
The Ladybug is seen as good fortune in just about every culture that has encountered it. And barring superstition, they truly are one of the greatest defenders of plant life in the natural world, which is how they gained their name. The story goes that, in Medieval Europe, farmers were desperately trying to defend their crops from garden pests. They prayed to The Virgin Mary for help, and soon they began to see small red beetles with seven black spots in their fields. The presence of those beetles seemed to miraculously save their crops, and the farmers named their new little friends “Our Lady’s Beetle” in reference to The Virgin Mary, as she is commonly depicted wearing a red cloak. While maybe not a miracle, their presence was definitely fortunate. The Ladybug, as it is now called, is a natural predator of harmful garden pests such as aphids, and are still used as a natural form of pesticide in gardens!
The Ladybug is thought to bring good luck, abundance, and protection to all who encounter them. In most european cultures, they are seen as an omen of good things to come. For example, in Italian culture, they are thought to be very good luck for new born babies, and so depictions of the lovely little creature can commonly be found in nurseries. And in France, it is said that if a ladybug happens to land on you, whatever malady you might be suffering from will fly away as the insect does. All these beliefs also mean that killing a ladybug is seen as terribly bad luck.
So with the coming season, keep an eye out for any lucky little Ladybugs. If you find one in your home, be grateful for its blessings and protection, and make sure to release it into your garden, as it will keep your garden just as safe!
