It is believed that if a deceased person’s eyes remain open, another death will soon follow.

Open Eyes of the Dead as a Death Omen

Details

The superstition holds that when a person dies and their eyes remain open, it signifies that the deceased is ‘watching’ or calling for someone else to join them in the afterlife. In many cultures, family members or morticians quickly close the eyelids of the deceased to prevent the perceived omen. This practice is often carried out by gently pressing the eyelids shut or using coins, cloth, or symbolic objects to weigh them down. The belief is particularly noted in Western and some Eastern European traditions and functions as both a ritual for respectful death handling and as a spiritual safeguard against further tragedy. The act of closing the eyes is also seen as helping the departed rest in peace and cutting ties with the living world.

Historical Context

The origin of this superstition likely stems from 19th-century European death rituals, where significant symbolism surrounded the deathbed and burial preparation. In many cultural contexts, the body was believed to retain spiritual influence shortly after death, making physical signs like open eyes ominous. The idea that the dead could signal or influence fate, especially concerning other deaths, was widespread among rural communities. In Victorian-era mourning practices, specific attention was paid to the placement and presentation of the corpse, often to manage spiritual impressions or warnings. Closing the eyes symbolized peace and a release from worldly concerns, while failure to do so was interpreted as a message or unfinished business with the living.

Modern Relevance

While the belief that open eyes signal another impending death is less commonly held today, it persists in some rural regions and among older generations. In modern funeral practice, morticians still routinely close the eyes of the deceased as part of standard preparation and aesthetic respect, though no spiritual meaning is typically implied. However, in folkloric traditions and among communities valuing ancestral customs, references to this superstition occasionally remain, particularly in Latin American, Eastern European, and Southeast Asian death narratives. Social media discussions and storytelling forums sometimes revive the superstition through anecdotal ghost stories or cultural commentary, though largely within symbolic or entertainment contexts.

Sources

Elizabeth Hallam and Jenny Hockey, Death, Memory and Material Culture (Berg Publishers, 2001)

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