Avoid looking at fingernails while a deceased person is being carried to the cemetery.

Avoid Looking at Fingernails During Funeral Processions

Details

In this superstition, individuals are warned not to look at fingernails—either their own or those of the deceased—while the body is being carried to a cemetery. It is believed that doing so could invite misfortune, spiritual attachment, or premature death. The exact body part viewed (fingernails versus toenails) varies by culture, but fingernails are most common due to their symbolic association with identity or life force. The practice may involve deliberately keeping one’s hands covered, eyes downcast, or focusing away from the body during transport. In some traditions, elders even guide attendees to avoid eye contact with the deceased’s hands to protect themselves from lingering spirits.

Historical Context

This belief is often traced to folk interpretations of the transition between life and death. In some South Asian, Eastern European, and Middle Eastern communities, fingernails have symbolic connotations—representing remnants of life or anchors for the soul. When someone dies, the soul’s journey must be undisturbed, and looking directly at the nails may disrupt this path or allow the spirit to imprint upon the living observer. Additionally, there may have been a fear that attention to details of death (such as the nails) symbolized a subconscious desire to join the dead, especially in cultures with strict mourning practices.

Modern Relevance

While the literal practice is declining, traces of this superstition still appear in funeral etiquette advice in rural parts of South Asia, the Middle East, and the Balkans. It may now be observed symbolically—for example, keeping sunglasses on during a procession or focusing on the ground. With modern funeral customs more regulated and less mystic in urban areas, this superstition has shifted toward cultural memory rather than active belief. However, in diaspora communities, such rituals are sometimes revived as part of heritage preservation.

Sources

Bharati, Agehananda. The Tantric Tradition. Rider, 1965.

Quick Facts

Related Superstitions

A baby’s future career or fate is predicted by the first object they select during a ceremonial setup.

In several Asian and Eastern European cultures, a traditional ceremony is held for babies usually around their first birthday. Known

Why Superstitions Persist in Modern Times

Despite widespread access to scientific knowledge and rational frameworks, superstitions continue to influence everyday behavior across cultures and demographics. From