According to some Ladybugs are dedicated to the Virgin Mary, hence their English name; others say they were originally dedicated to an earlier Goddess. The Dutch name of the Ladybug, "Lieveheersbeest" means "Dear Lord's Animal".The Ladybug is believed to bring specific benefits;
It is said in Sweden that if a Ladybird lands in a young maidens hand, she will soon get married!
In England, if a farmer finds a Ladybird, they will have a good harvest! Also in England each spot means a lucky month to come.
Some say that if you find a Ladybird in your house in winter, it brings you good luck!
In Austria a Ladybug is a sign of good weather.
The Ladybug is considered good luck in China and many other cultures. The Chinese consider it good luck to find one in the house.In the Canada and the U.S. many are familiar with some of these stories. Finding a ladybug overwintering in the garage brings good luck! It is said that if a Ladybug lands on you and then flies away on its own it is good luck. Canadians say that you should make a wish and let the Ladybug fly away--the direction it flies too shows the direction from which your wish will come. A rhyme can be recited to urge it to depart. It starts:
Ladybug, Ladybug fly away home.
Your house is on fire and your children are gone.
There are variations on this song by region and country.
Germans believe that the Ladybug is generally good luck but a traditional belief is that if there are less than seven spots you are guaranteed a good harvest.French vineyards Ladybugs bring good weather.
its name in Iran means "Good News".
In parts of Northern Europe, tradition says that one's wish granted if a ladybird lands on oneself. In Italy, it is said by some that if a ladybird flies into one's bedroom, it is considered good luck. In central Europe, a ladybird crawling across a girl's hand is thought to mean she will get married within the year. In Russia, a ladybird is called Божья коровка (God's cow) and a popular children's rhyme exists with a call to fly to the sky and bring back bread. Similarly, in Denmark a ladybird, called a mariehøne (Mary's hen), is asked by children to fly to 'our lord in heaven and ask for fairer weather in the morning'. In Irish, the insect is called "bóín Dé" — or "God's little cow".
In some cultures they are referred to as lucky bugs (Turkish: uğur böceği). In Greece, ladybugs are called πασχαλίτσα (paschalitsa), because they are found abundantly in Eastertime along with paschalia, the Common Lilac plant, which flowers at the same time.
In shamanism, Ladybug is associated with spirituality and religious devotion. Its life is short and it teaches to let go of worries and fears, to trust the great spirit and enjoy life. It is thought to be connected with the powers of renewal and regeneration. The Ladybug's appearance brings joy and changes and is a message to have faith in the greater powers.
Others point out the Ladybug's similarity in shape to the Scarab Beetle of ancient Egyptian and believe that the Ladybug is the European inheritor of the Scarab's good luck powers. Some believe that the red color represents the ancient belief in the good luck power of fire.
