A rabbit's foot
A lucky horseshoe
Finding a penny heads-up
A snippet from the hangman's rope
Items associated with good luck have been a belief for millenia. Whether it is an article of clothing, finding nature's lucky gift, or even associating positive attributes to the most unlikely item, people hold onto the idea that their fortunes can be swayed.
This belief is nothing new for the Anthracite region. It is close to a certainty, any person growing up in coal country can come up with a list of lucky items if pondered upon. However, one luck-giving, life-taking item may take the cake when it comes to otherworldly benefits.
Though viewed as borderline heinous today, for many years a snippet of the rope used for a hanging was considered the luckiest of charms. Spectators would clamor for a chance for this ghastly souvenir. Many believed the pieces possessed a somewhat supernatural power. Often, the sheriff in charge of the hanging would oblige. He would cut the rope into four to six inch pieces and distribute them to some luck-seeking onlookers within the crowd.
This ghastly tradition dates back hundreds of years in both the United States and portions of Europe. It was common that the sick would wrap the ropes around their heads as a cure for headaches and fevers. The snippet was even believed to put a halt to epileptic seizures and convulsions. Gamblers would bring the rope portions with them as they pressed lady luck during card games. This tradition persisted well into the twentieth-century.
And yes, there are documented newspaper accounts of this ghoulish tradition being carried out in the Anthracite Region. (See below from 1908). This account details the rope distribution after the execution of Charles Warzel in March 1908 within the Schuylkill County Prison yard.
So, the next time you are cleaning out an attic and come upon a small piece of braided rope made of hemp, think twice before discarding it. You may have just hit the paranormal jackpot.💀