Why do people cover mirrors and stop clocks when someone dies?

Kathy is a freelance writer for Textbroker, Verblio and Constant Content and is a published writer in Neon Rainbow Magazine.

Image by Monoar Rahman Rony from Pixabay

Fried Green Tomatoes made me curious about the superstitions of death

One of my favorite movies of all time Fried Green Tomatoesbased on a book by Fannie Flagg called Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. In the story, two best friends go through life and have a wealth of experiences together. The story goes that they opened a small cafe that soon became famous for its delicious fried green tomatoes and grill. Said to be the best barbecue in the south, the café was frequented by all sorts of people from all walks of life.

In this 1991 film, a woman named Ruth sadly dies of cancer. I swear – as many times as I’ve seen this movie, that’s quite a few times, that one part featured in the video below always makes me cry. every time

“A lady always knows when to leave”

Why cover the mirror and stop the clock?

What interested me in this scene is what happens right after Ruth dies while her best friend is telling a story about a lake that was lifted up by a flock of ducks and is now somewhere in Georgia. There is another character in the film called Sipsey who covers the mirror in the room where Ruth died and then stops the clock. Throughout the film, Sipsey is a very superstitious person and it shows in her actions when Ruth dies.

I’ve always wondered why these things were done, and I’ve learned a lot about superstitions, folklore, and the beliefs people have that inspire them to take those actions as a person transitions from this life into the next ( if you believe that).

The origins of this superstition

Some of the superstitions behind cover mirrors and stopwatches are believed to have originated in Britain and Germany. According to other sources they are based on an old Jewish tradition and I have also read that this superstition originated with African Americans and Creoles. Regardless of where they come from, there are certain beliefs that lead people to stop mirrors and clocks, either for the sake of the mourners or the soul of the deceased.

Photo by Ekrulila from Pexels

Why mirrors are covered with cloth:

This can be done so that the mourners do not have to see what they look like during the mourning and can freely express their grief. It can be done to allow the spirit of the newly deceased to transition successfully into their new life. Some believe that when the soul of the newly deceased sees their reflection in the mirror, they are trapped and cannot go to the afterlife. This could result in the ghost staying and haunting all who remain in this world. Another superstition holds that the next person to see themselves in the mirror will be the next person to die. Mirrors were covered so no one could see their reflection. Superstition also claims that reflections in the mirror are projections of the human soul.

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In general, the mirrors remained covered until the burial. After the burial they could be uncovered.

jalexartis Photography, CC-BY 2.0, from Flickr

Why clocks are stopped:

One superstition is to stop the clock so the mourners can stay and grieve for as long as they like without worrying about how much time has passed. Stopping the clocks is a way of allowing the soul of the newly departed to go into the next life without having to worry about the time. It is believed that if the clock is not stopped, all who remain indoors are out of luck. This belief is said to have its origins in Germany and Great Britain, and it was said that when a person dies, time stands still for that person. You then begin a new period of existence without time. Allowing a clock to continue invites the spirit of the deceased to remain in the house and haunt it endlessly. Probably the most logical explanation for stopping a clock when a person dies is to simply record the time of death. This was especially true if the home was in a remote location where it would be a while before help arrived or for the coroner to collect the body.

Another fascinating superstition about death

There is another belief that I found intriguing and it concerns the removal of the body of the deceased from the house where he died.

This belief or superstition states that when the deceased is placed on a stretcher, they should always be taken feet first out the door. When pulled headfirst out of the home, they can “look inside” the home and beckon someone still in the home to join them in death.

stefg74, CC-BY 2.0, from flickr; Image from Free-Photos on Pixabay

It’s hard to know what to believe

It’s hard to know whether to believe these superstitions or not. I know that my husband’s mother died (over 20 years ago I guess), she died in the house where she and my father-in-law lived at the time. As far as I remember there was no mirror in the room so it didn’t need to be covered. I don’t remember if there was a clock in the room or not.

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We had a hospice nurse with us at the time and that helped a lot. I think hospice nurses are special angels here on earth. The nurse told us exactly what to expect, which made the death less mysterious. When we feel charitable, we try to support hospices whenever we can. They do wonderful things and are fantastic teachers and helpers in a process that many of us find difficult to understand.

No matter what happens, I respect the beliefs of others

I think if someone else had this belief or superstition and wanted to cover the mirror and leave the clock, I would definitely respect their wishes. That’s the beauty of living in the United States. There is freedom to believe what you want and hopefully people will respect those beliefs. At least I always try to respect other people’s beliefs and I hope to be treated the same way. Isn’t that the golden rule anyway – to treat others as you would like to be treated yourself? I think that’s a good rule in life.

Do you believe these superstitions enough to follow them?

Answer questions

Ask: Why is it said that you should not touch a dead body with your bare hands within the first 24 hours after the person’s death?

Answer: The only reasons I’ve found are health concerns if the person died from a contagious disease like Ebola. There may also be superstitious reasons.

Ask: Why are corpses covered with sheets?

Answer: I would suspect it is done more for the loved ones and bereaved and as an act of respect for the person who has passed away.

Kathy H (Author) from Waukesha, Wisconsin on 07/09/2019:

Thanks for your comment, Darren M. I had never heard of putting two coins on the bosun’s eyes – very interesting!

Darren M on June 22, 2019:

I just always did that. First the clocks, then the mirrors. as well as being sure that the deceased walks feet first out the door. I put two coins on her eyes. for the boatswain

Evelyn and Bob on 05/08/2019:

why take a risk!!

Kathy H (Author) from Waukesha, Wisconsin on February 13, 2019:

Thank you for sharing your experience with Patti64! It’s interesting the things we remember! I’ve also remembered things, in my case it was after losing a grandparent, and then I think, why am I remembering this? Thanks for your comment!

Patti64 on February 13, 2019:

I remember my great uncle dying in London in the early 70’s as a very young child about 5 and the first thing my mother (who is now also dead) did was cover all the mirrors as she wasn’t sure as for the clocks. It was the only time I remember a death in my family. For an odd distant memory, I think he was Jewish, although I can’t be sure my mother’s family was Roman Catholic. Strange the memories that sit hazy at the edge of our minds.