Dispelling Urban Myths About Mirrors: Part 1
Designer mirrors, and just mirrors in general, are great pieces for capturing the attention and imagination of visitors and colleagues. This is because they straddle the line between a simple object of furniture and a work of art, never quite being either but having the effects of both.
A lot of this comes from their reflective surface. Humans love their reflections and love seeing other objects being reflected as well. The almost out-of-body experience of seeing yourself in a mirror can be timeless, with artists and storytellers trying to expand on the experience for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
It’s little wonder, then, that mirrors have become the center of many urban myths and superstitions. Their properties’ mystery is too tempting for many people to see them as nothing more than a simple object. But, of course, while some of these superstitions can be harmless, a lot of them can lead to bad decision-making when it comes to creating the right décor.
In this blog, we’re going to explore the major superstitions associated with mirrors and explain why these may not be applicable or how believing some things can lead to poor decorating decisions.
Seven Years Bad Luck
Let’s start with the most widespread superstition. Simply put, there has long been a belief for many that breaking a mirror can lead to seven years of bad luck in the future.
Why seven years, though? Well, the belief comes from as far back as Roman times. The ancient Romans believed that all life would renew every seven years. Breaking a mirror would upset this cycle, thus leading to a period of bad luck that would last until the next cycle.
While the Romans were pretty clever, there’s not much to back up any of their more supernatural beliefs. So the only time you should worry about what happens after you break a mirror should be immediately after it has happened. Thankfully, we have a handy guide to help you out with that.
Bloody Mary
A favorite amongst teenagers looking to get a thrill during a slumber party, the bloody Mary myth has been terrorizing children in “truth or dare” games for generations. The basic principle is that if you say “bloody Mary” thirteen times in front of a candlelit mirror, you’ll be able to summon a frightening ghost.
Look, we get it; even the prettiest designer mirror can look pretty creepy in the dark - especially when lit by a little bit of candlelight. However, the reality of this myth is that it’s just a game by kids to creep out other kids. If you’re of a particular age, then you might remember how this myth changed out “bloody Mary” for “Biggie Smalls” in the late-90s after the death of the famous rapper.
If that doesn’t have you convinced this might not be all that serious, then we don’t know what will. While this doesn’t have a tremendous impact on your décor choices, it’s probably worth it to make sure you don’t let this affect any future bathroom mirror purchases. If you’re looking for a guide, we have a blog on the topic here.
That’s it for the first part of our series, dispelling some of the crazier urban myths surrounding mirrors. Be sure to check back on Friday with part 2, where we’ll cover more superstitions and how these may be affecting your décor.
