According to widespread belief across Western cultural traditions, displaying a horseshoe—particularly when hung above a main entrance with specific orientation—provides protection against malevolent supernatural forces while attracting prosperity and good fortune to the household. This iron talisman’s effectiveness supposedly relies on several factors: proper positioning (points upward to “collect” luck or downward to “pour” luck over entrants); attachment method (traditionally seven nails, an auspicious number); and the horseshoe’s origin (found shoes considered more powerful than purchased ones). Some traditions specify that the shoe must come from a white horse or a horse known for speed or strength for maximum effectiveness.

According to widespread belief across multiple cultural traditions, dwellings where a death has occurred require specific purification rituals before normal habitation can safely resume. This spiritual cleansing supposedly removes death energy, prevents the deceased from lingering inappropriately, and reestablishes proper boundaries between living and dead. The purification varies widely by culture but typically incorporates multiple sensory elements: aromatic substances (incense, herbs, spices); sound (bells, chanting, music); visual elements (light, specific colors, symbolic objects); and sometimes physical cleaning with special substances. Some traditions specify different procedures based on the nature of the death, with violent or unexpected deaths requiring more intensive purification.

According to folk belief across various Asian and some European cultures, the appearance of a cricket inside a home—particularly when it enters uninvited—is a sign of upcoming good fortune, prosperity, and protective presence. The insect’s chirping is said to bring harmony to the household, and changes in its song patterns are believed to warn of approaching danger or misfortune. In some versions of the belief, crickets are said to attract wealth, foretell good news, or protect sleeping individuals from malevolent spiritual forces. Importantly, harming or forcibly removing a cricket that has voluntarily entered the home is believed to reverse its beneficial effects, bringing bad luck or household strife instead.

According to household superstition in various cultures, painting a home’s exterior doors—particularly the main entrance—entirely black invites misfortune, illness, and death into the dwelling. This color prohibition applies specifically to the external surface rather than internal doors or door frames. Some traditions specify exceptions, such as black doors being acceptable for businesses, public buildings, or homes in certain locations. Others note that adding decorative elements in other colors can neutralize the negative effects of predominantly black doors.

According to housewarming traditions in various cultures, the first person to enter a newly established home should bring a gift of salt, often accompanied by bread and sometimes wine or honey. This inaugural visitor establishes an important precedent for the household’s future prosperity and harmony. The salt should be ceremonially presented to the homeowners with specific well-wishes for abundance and protection. Some traditions specify that the salt should be sprinkled in the corners of the home before being used in cooking, while others recommend storing a portion permanently as a protective talisman.

According to feng shui principles and various cultural beliefs, positioning a mirror directly across from the main entrance of a home creates serious misfortune by reflecting positive energy (chi) back outside before it can circulate through the living space. This inauspicious arrangement supposedly results in financial difficulties, relationship problems, and generally diminished prosperity for residents. Some traditions specify that the negative effect is strongest with large mirrors that reflect the entire doorway, while smaller mirrors or those positioned at angles may cause less harm.

Opening an umbrella inside a home or building is considered bad luck and may bring misfortune to the household. While some traditions specify that the bad luck only affects the person who opened the umbrella, others extend the misfortune to everyone present. The taboo persists in homes, theaters, and public spaces, even when few can explain exactly why the act is considered unlucky.

When sweeping a floor, allowing the broom or mop to pass over someone’s feet is widely considered a serious omen of bad luck. Depending on the culture, the consequence might be never getting married, going to prison, or losing financial stability. The superstition is so strong in some communities that people will stop cleaning and apologize profusely if they accidentally sweep over another person’s feet—even brushing it off is believed to “reverse the curse.”

Although the belief may seem irrational, it often reinforces household etiquette and respect for others’ space, especially in close living quarters. The idea that a broom—an object associated with dirt—should never touch a person, especially in communal settings, reflects both practical hygiene and spiritual caution.

According to longstanding domestic superstition, sweeping dust or debris out of a house through the front door removes not just dirt, but also good fortune and spiritual protection. Instead, households are advised to collect swept dirt in the center of the room and discard it through a side or back exit. The direction and location of disposal are seen as critical to preserving household energy and prosperity.

The practice is rooted in the symbolic significance of thresholds in traditional belief systems. The front door represents both a boundary and a portal—connecting the private home with the outside world. Disrupting this space by sweeping outward is believed to allow spiritual forces, especially protective ones, to exit unintentionally.

In many folk traditions, particularly among African diasporic and Southern U.S. communities, sweeping is not only a physical act but a spiritual one. Certain rules govern when and how cleaning should be done—such as avoiding sweeping at night, or not sweeping around someone’s feet, which is believed to prevent marriage. In this context, sweeping toward the front door violates customary spiritual etiquette and risks displacing positive energy or ancestral blessings.