May 1, 2022
Editor: Haley Gagerman
Artist: Sydney Newman
If you scroll through my family group chat, you will stumble upon a continuous flow of all things ladybug — pictures of ladybugs we’ve come across, sweaters with ladybugs woven into them, flowers wrapped in ladybug wrapping paper, etc. Any time my friends spot a ladybug, their first instinct is to send me a picture and say “Good things are coming” or “Today will be a great day”
For as long as I can remember, my family has worshiped ladybugs as a symbol of good luck and the strength of family. Each time we are blessed with the presence of a ladybug, we are greeted by our ancestors and loved ones who are no longer with us.
My great-grandmother, Edith, was a Holocaust survivor who emigrated to the United States after escaping the war. She was a shining light in my mother’s life and was widely admired; she passed away a few days before my mother’s 18th birthday. The number 18 is significant in the Jewish religion, meaning “Chai” in Hebrew, or “life” in English.
After she passed, my aunt would frequently see ladybugs on special occasions and said that it was the beloved Edith popping in to say hello and to look after them. Spotting ladybugs helped my family cope with her passing, and thus, the legend of the ladybug was born.
Recently, I have found that ladybugs ground me and remind me that my guardian angels are always by my side. I almost sense a feeling of relief; they serve as a reminder that I am on the right track.
The tradition of sending every ladybug we see makes me feel close to my relatives that are scattered across the country while I am in Michigan. It is our special bond that’s unbreakable and is strengthened by every ladybug that crosses our path. My favorite pair of earrings are little ladybugs. Whenever I need an extra dose of good luck: for a test, an important interview, or just a stressful day, I wear the ladybug necklace that my grandma gifted me when I was younger.
Although it is small, having something to grasp onto that symbolizes the beauty of life is so powerful and influential. Whenever I feel anxious, I am reminded by ladybugs that life goes on and that it is oh so beautiful. Nature in general often has this effect on me; it helps me remember that our problems are so small in the grand scheme of things.
Even if this whole theory is a product of our imagination, it is so pure and special, and it is a tradition I will never abandon. Whenever I need a lift, I think about the lovely little ladybug who flies around mindlessly, not realizing how much joy she brings to my family and me.