Many theories exist, but this is the most popular one.

This superstition comes from the fact that many early cultures considered triangles to be sacred symbols of life. For Christians, a triangle represents the Holy Trinity. Since a ladder up against a wall forms a triangle, walking beneath it would be disrupting sanctity and risk holy wrath.

Early Christians considered a ladder resting against a wall to represent the crucifixion, and therefore, evil. For this reason, convicted criminals were forced to walk under the gallows ladder, the entranceway to eternal damnation and darkness.

INTERESTING REFERENCES
  1. HowStuffWorks.com – Why is walking under a ladder supposed to be unlucky?
  2. TimelessMyths.co.uk – Walking Under a Ladder

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