7 Strange Superstitions From the Middle Ages That Ruled People’s Lives That Will Blow Your Mind

The Middle Ages were characterized by superstitions influencing daily life, with beliefs like avoiding black cats, carrying bread for protection, and using garlic against witches.

The Middle Ages—honestly, what a wild time to be alive. People didn’t have the science we take for granted now, so they turned to all sorts of odd beliefs to make sense of the world.

These superstitions shaped daily life in ways that might seem unbelievable today. Everything from building homes to following laws got tangled up in these quirky ideas.

It’s honestly wild how much power these superstitions held over people’s lives. They seeped into every corner of society.

Let’s dive into some of the weirdest beliefs that once guided entire communities. Ready? Here we go.

1) Avoiding black cats crossing your path to prevent bad luck!

A medieval street scene showing a person carefully avoiding a black cat crossing the cobblestone road, with houses and villagers in period clothing nearby.

If a black cat crossed your path back then, you’d probably freeze in your tracks. People believed it spelled disaster.

They linked black cats to witches and dark magic. Seeing one meant something creepy might be close by.

You’d do your best to steer clear and keep your luck intact. This fear spread all over Europe.

Even today, some folks flinch when a black cat appears. Maybe you do too, just a little bit!

2) Carrying a piece of bread to ward off evil spirits during storms.

A medieval person holding a piece of bread during a stormy night, with dark clouds and lightning in the background.

Picture this: a storm rolls in, and you grab a chunk of bread to keep evil spirits away. In the Middle Ages, people swore bread had special protective powers.

You’d hold that bread tight, especially when the wind howled and lightning flashed. Folks thought it could stop spirits from bringing sickness or misfortune.

People used everyday objects to feel a bit safer. Next thunderstorm, maybe you’ll remember this old trick and smile.

3) Hanging garlic in doorways to keep witches away

A medieval wooden doorway with bunches of garlic hanging from it in a village setting.

Back then, people really believed garlic could protect them from witches. They braided garlic and hung it over doors or by the fireplace.

This created what they thought was a strong barrier against evil spirits.

Sometimes, you’d spot garlic on windowsills or thresholds too. The goal was to block witches or bad magic from sneaking in.

Garlic wasn’t just for flavor—it symbolized luck and protection. Hanging it up felt like putting a guard at your door.

4) Believing that breaking a mirror would bring seven years of misfortune

A medieval man in a rustic room looks anxiously at a shattered mirror on the floor, with a black cat and a ladder nearby suggesting superstition and bad luck.

Ever heard that breaking a mirror dooms you to seven years of bad luck? That idea comes from the belief that mirrors reflect your soul.

If you broke one, people thought your soul got damaged too. Scary, right?

Seven years seemed like the time it would take your soul to recover. Imagine living with that kind of stress after an accident!

To fix things, some folks buried the broken shards under a full moon. That was supposed to undo the curse.

So next time you shatter a mirror, you’ll know why people used to panic.

5) Never lighting three candles in a row as it invited evil.

A medieval person cautiously watching two lit candles on a table, with a third unlit candle nearby, surrounded by old books and shadowy figures in a dimly lit room.

People back then gave candles a lot of power. Lighting three in a row? Big mistake, according to them.

They said it would invite evil spirits straight into your home. Candles were supposed to keep darkness at bay, so three together felt like breaking a rule.

If you did it by accident, you’d worry about sickness or bad luck showing up. Makes you think twice before lighting that third candle, doesn’t it?

6) Throwing salt over your left shoulder to blind lurking demons

A person in medieval clothing throws salt over their left shoulder while shadowy demons lurk behind them on a dimly lit street.

Spill some salt, and you might get nervous even now. In the Middle Ages, people thought spilled salt attracted evil spirits.

To stop bad luck, you’d toss a pinch over your left shoulder. Why the left? Folks said that’s where the devil liked to lurk.

Throwing salt behind you was supposed to “blind” any demons sneaking up. It became a quick, everyday ritual.

If you thought demons watched your every move, you’d probably be extra careful with the salt too!

7) Using charms made from toad bones for protection.

A person in a medieval workshop making protective charms from toad bones, surrounded by herbs and mystical objects.

It might sound odd, but back in the Middle Ages, people really believed toad bones held special powers. Folks carried these bones as charms, hoping they’d keep danger at bay.

Some even hid tiny frog coffins inside churches. Can you imagine taking that much effort for a bit of magic?

If you worked with horses, you might sneak out at midnight for a ritual with toad bones. Trainers thought these bones would help them control even the wildest horses.

People mixed old medicine with magic all the time. They searched for protection in some pretty unexpected places.

Next time you spot a simple charm, maybe pause and wonder—just how strange were some of our ancestors’ beliefs?