The superstition about an itchy nose originates in European folkloric traditions, particularly from 19th-century rural England and Ireland. In agrarian societies, physical sensations were often believed to carry mystical or symbolic meanings. Because the nose plays a prominent part in facial expressions and interactions, it became a focal point for predictive signs. Superstitions like this reflect a broader tendency in folk cultures to assign meanings to bodily sensations, often interpreting them as communications from a spiritual or unseen realm. This tradition held that minor itches or bodily cues foreshadowed news or shifts in one’s social environment. The component about ‘kissing a fool’ may have stemmed from moral tales or proverbs used to encourage prudent social behavior.