SUPERSTITION

Frosch lamp with shield, collection of the Dutch Mining Museum, object number: NMM-004004 © Nederlands Mijnmuseum

In particular, the Westphalian Frosch lamps were equipped with a shield displaying the mining symbol (crossed hammer and pick) and the phrase "Glück Auf". Loosely translated, it means "come back up safely and in good health". Every miner had his own lamp — his own Frosch. If a miner was fatally injured, the shield with "Glück Auf" on it was broken off, as the lamp had not brought him luck.