Is It True That Chimney Sweeps Are Considered Lucky?

Chimney Sweeps have been considered lucky for quite some time. The Walt Disney film Mary Poppins reinforced this belief with the lucky sweep and catchy songs throughout the film such as "A sweep is as lucky, as lucky can be!" There are two particular legends that this lucky belief may have derived from. In eighteenth-century England a fearless Chimney Sweep jumped onto a runaway horse leading the king and grabbed the reigns, saving him from a disastrous fate but before the king had time to thank him the sweep had disappeared into the crowd. To show his eternal thanks the king then declared a royal decree proclaiming that all sweeps were to be treated with admiration and respect just in case one of them was the sweep that had saved his life. In the other version of a similar story King George III was riding in a carriage drawn by a runaway horse, which was saved by a passing sweep. On this occasion the King was able to stop and thank the sweep, which he did so by bowing down to him, as did all his entourage. This left a link that bowing to a sweep meant good fortune and when bowing changed to handshaking in recent times, it was considered lucky to shake hands with a sweep. To this day, brides like to request the presence of a chimney sweep at their wedding to offer good luck and wedded bliss on the happy couple.