Why its Best to NOT Split the Pole
By Angel Scales
When two individuals are walking and a pole divides their path, this is known as splitting the pole. It’s thought that if you do this, you will suffer misfortune and your bond with someone
close to you will deteriorate. Black American and African roots may be the source of this superstition. According to African culture, severing the pole could cause a portion of the spiritual bond to break. In a similar vein, splitting a pole was thought to symbolize being cut off from your loved ones during the enslavement era.
Personally, being from an African American
household, I was raised to not split the pole. Even now, I’ll slow down my walking or stop moving altogether to avoid any potential bad luck.
Once, I accidentally split the pole with a girl I
didn’t know and ended up tripping in the middle of the sidewalk not too long after. I try my best to avoid it, though sometimes it’s inevitable. You could be rushing to class, or simply not paying
attention, so not only will I explain why it’s best not to split the pole; I’ll also provide ways to reverse said bad luck.
Bad luck doesn’t come with set consequences. Having bad luck on an exam day doesn’t mean you could fail your exam; it could mean you stepped in dog poop on your way there.
In other words, there are infinite possibilities that could come out of splitting the pole. What if you’re walking with your best friend, you two split the pole, and then all of a sudden she remembered that time you ate her leftovers without asking. She might not have cared for then, but it’s a big deal now. Your relationship has weakened, and you’ll likely be in a petty argument for the rest of the day.
To avoid this, simply watch your surroundings; take note of any poles you’re about to come across. At said pole, slow your walking to make sure she passes it before you, or stop walking altogether. It might be strange to suddenly slow down or stop moving, so pretend you lost something, or take a look at that really interesting building on the right side of you. Any excuse will do, just let a few seconds separate you two.
Tip: if anyone questions why you slowed down, act oblivious. For example:
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Really sell it! More than likely, they’ll give up on the question and go back to calculating their
midterm grade.
In cases where you cannot help but split the pole, there are two main ways to reverse your
misfortune: re-trace your steps or say: “bread and butter.”
Going back and walking by the pole again (this time by yourself) is literally reversing your movements, therefore reversing the possibility of unluckiness. Unfortunately, unless there’s no
one else around, you run the risk of looking a bit strange. Whoever you’re with could also begin to ask you hundreds of questions if they know nothing about superstition. In my opinion, the saying “bread and butter” option is better.
Bread and butter go together, right? This short phrase is about telling the potential misfortune that you and your person go together like bread and butter.
Despite splitting the pole, you two remain close. I do recommend saying it in a lower tone to avoid any confusion, unless you want to explain yourself to anyone who might question you.
Avoid splitting the pole at all costs! It could lead to dumb arguments with your
friends or having to walk home in an all-of-the-sudden thunderstorm.
It’s best to watch your surroundings, check for any poles, and immediately slow your walking to avoid splitting it. If you have no choice but to split the pole, use one of the aforementioned remedies to avoid accidentally drinking spoiled milk or getting a “we need to talk” text at midnight. Stay aware, stay safe, and maybe start looking for some four-leaf covers.