Stuff You Should Know

Short Stuff: Curse of Broken Mirrors

October 22, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The superstition surrounding breaking a mirror and incurring seven years of bad luck may stem from ancient Greek beliefs about reflections in water (Narcissus myth) and later Roman beliefs that the reflection is the soul, which is damaged upon the mirror's breakage. 
  • The seven-year bad luck period is attributed to the Roman belief that life changes occur in seven-year cycles, or possibly because the cost of an early mirror equaled seven years' wages for a servant. 
  • Beyond breakage, mirror superstitions include covering them after a death to prevent the deceased's soul from getting trapped in the reflection or demons from escaping, and using them in Edwardian Britain for divination regarding future marriage. 

Segments

Introduction to Bad Luck
Copied to clipboard!
(00:00:40)
  • Key Takeaway: The core topic of the Short Stuff: Curse of Broken Mirrors is investigating the origins of the seven-year bad luck superstition associated with breaking a mirror.
  • Summary: The episode opens by confirming the common superstition that breaking a mirror results in seven years of bad luck. The hosts intend to explore the historical and cultural reasons behind this specific belief. This segment sets the stage for a deep dive into mirror folklore.
Ancient Reflection Origins
Copied to clipboard!
(00:01:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Early Greek aversion to reflections, exemplified by the Narcissus myth, established a foundational superstition against seeing one’s own image in water.
  • Summary: The Greeks were among the first to express caution regarding reflections, stemming from the story of Narcissus drowning after falling in love with his image in a stream. This initial fear was directed at reflections seen in water, the primary reflective surface available at the time. The Romans later adopted this belief while simultaneously inventing early mirrors made of polished metal.
Soul and Mirror Connection
Copied to clipboard!
(00:03:38)
  • Key Takeaway: The belief that a mirror reflects one’s soul led to the idea that breaking the mirror breaks the soul, inviting misfortune or divine anger.
  • Summary: Early reflective devices were thought to be used by gods to observe human souls, making their breakage disrespectful or anger-inducing. If the reflection is the soul, breaking the mirror fractures the soul, leaving the body unprotected for seven years. Alternatively, the broken soul might seek revenge, sometimes by causing harm to a loved one.
Seven Years and Print Culture
Copied to clipboard!
(00:04:46)
  • Key Takeaway: The seven-year duration is linked to Roman beliefs about life cycles, and the superstition was cemented in English culture via a 1777 written account linking mirrors to divination.
  • Summary: The Romans believed life’s major changes occurred in seven-year cycles, which likely influenced the duration of the bad luck period. The first known mention of breaking a mirror being unlucky in English print dates to 1777, connecting it to ancient divination practices used by magicians. This documentation helped popularize the superstition across cultures.
Mitigating Broken Mirror Luck
Copied to clipboard!
(00:08:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Rituals to counteract broken mirror bad luck include safely disposing of pieces, burying them under a full moon, or throwing salt over the left shoulder.
  • Summary: To dispose of broken mirror pieces safely, they should be wrapped in paper or placed in a cardboard box to prevent cutting through plastic bags. Burying the pieces is suggested, ideally under the light of a full moon to maximize the reversal of bad luck. Throwing salt over the left shoulder is cited as a general remedy for dispelling any accrued misfortune.
Other Mirror Superstitions
Copied to clipboard!
(00:09:57)
  • Key Takeaway: Mirrors are central to various other superstitions, including covering them after death to protect the deceased’s soul and using candlelight rituals for marriage prognostication.
  • Summary: Covering mirrors after a person dies is done to prevent the wandering soul from seeing its reflection and becoming trapped, or to stop demons from escaping into the living world. In Edwardian Britain, young women would look into a mirror by candlelight to see their future husband, with a grim specter signaling death before marriage. Conversely, looking into a mirror immediately after saying ‘I do’ is believed to unite souls forever in an alternate universe.