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And superstitions are for entertainment purposes only. Remove the mirror then, or relocate it, out of the bedroom. I too love Fried Green Tomatoes and cry every time. Kitty Fields from Summerland on April 17, 2013: Awesome hub. But, I have a serious question, How long should you cover the mirror and stop the clock and all that stuff? :). No Buddha statue or three legged Toad will make this TV or mirror any better, a nice piece of voile or muslin cloth is all that is needed to cover it at night whilst you sleep and you can buy these special cloths from our website for £88.88 at wwww.whataloadofnonsense.con only kidding of course, you can use absolutely any piece of cloth you like. I have used cross symbols on my mirrors so entities can not jump through them. Thanks. KathyH (author) from Waukesha, Wisconsin on February 13, 2019: Thank you for sharing your experience Patti64! Most often it involved pre-teens and teenagers who dare a friend to go into a bathroom, close the door and turn off the light, then chant some variation of “Bloody Mary…” several times. We do not work during that week; we do not indulge in luxuries. Mirrors in the past were often warped and flawed, which would have distorted images even further. So much is going on surrounding a person's impending death and when they die that this was done to get an accurate time. Clive Barker brought this concept to the big screen in his movie Candyman, where the titular spirit is called forth (to do really awful things to his summoner) by saying his name three times while looking in a mirror. So glad you found this interesting. KathyH (author) from Waukesha, Wisconsin on January 08, 2013: You're welcome, Dianna! I remember in the early 70's as a very small child about 5 my great uncle died in London and the first thing my mother (who has now also passed) did was cover all the mirrors, not sure about the clocks. I always wondered why these things were done, and I have learned a lot about superstitions, folklore, and the beliefs people have that inspire them to take these actions when a person passes from this life to the next (if that's what you believe).
I think this experience is universal to anyone who has ever lost a loved one. Regardless of where they originated, there are certain beliefs that lead people to cover mirrors and stop clocks, either for the benefit of the mourners or for the soul of the deceased. It may be done to allow the spirit of the newly deceased person to cross over into their new life successfully. Old spiritual beliefs get passed down through the generations, but their meanings are often left behind. We want to hear it! I do believe. The clock stopping to me would be significant because when someone close to you dies it seems like your world has been fractured, broken, stopped, while others are grocery shopping, laughing, walking their dogs. That's the beauty of living in the United States. However if you feel it’s necessary, Keep it covered. Whenever we're feeling charitable, we try to give to hospices whenever we can. There are more variations of the chant than any one person has ever collected, and the number of times the spirit needs to be called out to varies just as widely. :). I know what you mean about each nationality having its own sets of superstitions. And then Hollywood gets ahold of it and fills our heads with images of creepy characters crawling out of mirrors, or popping in, then popping out again at a different location, running amok and wreaking havoc, and this becomes a new chapter in the history of the superstition. :) It is interesting to hear others perspectives and beliefs on this topic. Question: Why is it said that people shouldn't touch a dead body, with bare hands, within the first 24 hours after the person has passed? Another superstition says that the next person who sees themselves in the mirror will be the next person to die. I personally, have never done that, but due to my own experience of mirrors I hold this belief strongly. Thanks so much for your comment! So her response gave me a keen explanation as to the superstition behind my belief. When people must sit shiva in the house of mourning they are in essence paying their respects to the deceased. There are more superstitions involving mirrors than can easily be counted, but not all of them are negative. Because the mirror doubles and bounces all sorts of energy, it disrupts the tranquility needed in a bedroom for better sleep.. Nightmares and Soul Stealing. We live in a world that is obsessed with externalities. I, too, wondered about the exact reasons for doing such things and looked up the reasons years ago after seeing 'Fried Green Tomatoes' one day. The person performing the ritual would then pray to the appropriate god or goddess before gazing into the reflections created by the combination of water and mirror. Answer: I would guess that it’s done more for the loved ones and survivors and as an act of respect for the person who has passed. Some believe that if the soul of the newly departed sees their reflection in the mirror, they become trapped and can't leave for the afterlife. Blessings to you. KathyH (author) from Waukesha, Wisconsin on July 09, 2019: Thank you for your comment, Darren M. I had never heard about placing two coins on the person's eyes for the boatman - very interesting! There is freedom to believe what you want, and hopefully people will have respect for those beliefs.