22 Oct 2025
11m

Short Stuff: Curse of Broken Mirrors

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Stuff You Should Know

The podcast episode explores the superstition surrounding breaking mirrors, delving into its historical roots from ancient Greece and Rome, where reflections were linked to the soul and divine observation. The hosts discuss the belief that breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck, tracing the origin of this idea to Roman beliefs about life cycles and the cost of mirrors. They also cover various methods to mitigate the bad luck, such as disposing of the pieces carefully, burying them under a full moon, or throwing salt over one's shoulder. Additionally, they touch on other mirror-related superstitions, including covering mirrors after a death to prevent the deceased's soul from being trapped and practices related to marriage and glimpsing one's future spouse.

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