In German superstition, encountering a chimney sweep is traditionally considered a sign of good luck.
The belief developed from the practical importance of chimney sweeps. A clean, well-maintained chimney reduced the danger of fires, especially when homes depended on wood or coal for heating and cooking. Seeing the worker therefore suggested household safety, warmth, and protection from a potentially disastrous accident.
Chimney sweeps became recognizable figures in European towns because their work required them to move from house to house in distinctive dark clothing. In Germany, touching a chimney sweep’s button or uniform is sometimes said to strengthen the luck, although customs differ between regions and families.
The superstition is not the same as the belief that a horseshoe brings luck. Both are European traditions, but one centers on a person whose work protects buildings, while the other centers on an object. Modern fire-safety technology has reduced the everyday visibility of chimney sweeps, yet the lucky association remains common in German New Year imagery and greeting cards.