This superstition holds that passing beneath a rope made of hemp — particularly one associated with executions or hangings — invites violent death or moral downfall. In many regions, especially in old European traditions, such ropes were strongly linked to gallows and criminal punishment. It was believed that these ropes carried negative spiritual energy due to their contact with death and sin. As a result, stepping under a hempen rope — often suspended or symbolic — was interpreted as exposing oneself to the same fate as the condemned. In some variations, it is considered a bad omen portending evil actions in the future, implying that the person may later become a criminal or bring misfortune to others. This belief was particularly strong in communities where executions were publicly conducted and gallows served as grim public reminders.

A baby’s future career or fate is predicted by the first object they select during a ceremonial setup.
In several Asian and Eastern European cultures, a traditional ceremony is held for babies usually around their first birthday. Known