Stuff You Should Know – Short Stuff: Curse of Broken Mirrors

Date: October 22, 2025
Hosts: Josh and Chuck | iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In this Short Stuff episode, Josh and Chuck explore the superstition surrounding broken mirrors, diving into its historical origins, cultural evolution, and all the superstitious baggage we've attached to shiny reflective surfaces. The hosts unpack why breaking a mirror is considered bad luck (specifically seven years of it), examine related customs, and sprinkle in the kind of fun banter and pop culture references that SYSK fans adore.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Origins of Mirror Superstition

• Ancient Greece and Reflections

  • The ancient Greeks were among the first to ascribe mystical significance to reflections, rooted in the myth of Narcissus:

    "Because the story of Narcissus falls in love with his image in the stream and drowns and dies. So because of that, the Greeks are like, maybe seeing yourself isn't such a great thing to do."
    — Josh, [01:31]

• Progression to Ancient Rome and Metal Mirrors

  • Romans adopted Greek superstition but took vanity a step further by inventing actual mirrors, initially using highly polished metal:

    "Eventually the mirrors that they came up with at the beginning were highly polished metal surfaces. So if you had like an old shield sitting around, don't throw it away. You can upcycle it and do a terrific mirror."
    — Chuck, [02:11]

Mirrors as Soul Vessels & Bad Luck

• Mirrors & Souls

  • Both Greek and Roman beliefs contributed to the idea that mirrors could reflect or contain a person's soul.

    "If you believe that the reflection in the mirror, your reflection is actually you're seeing your soul, if you break a mirror, you're breaking your soul, too."
    — Chuck, [04:32]

• Soul's Revenge & Loss of Protection

  • Breaking your soul means it can no longer protect your body, or it may seek revenge for being broken—sometimes harming loved ones.

    "One is that your soul couldn't protect your body any longer... another is your soul is rather upset and now it's looking for revenge on you."
    — Chuck, [04:34]

• The "Seven Years" Bad Luck

  • The “seven years” part likely comes from Roman beliefs in life cycles of seven years, or alternatively, because mirrors were so expensive they were worth about seven years' wages:

    "...the Romans believed that life changes happen in seven year cycles. So that's where that idea comes from. Or another explanation... the cost of a mirror would equal seven years' work from a servant."
    — Josh, [05:14]

• First English Text Reference

  • The concept entered written English in 1777, referenced as “a very unlucky accident” and tied to mirrors’ use in divination by magicians.

    "...mirrors were part of an ancient kind of divination formerly used by magicians and their superstitious and diabolical operations."
    — Chuck, [05:42]

Methods to Mitigate Bad Luck

• Disposing of Mirror Pieces

  • Modern and ancient methods for ridding oneself of bad luck include:

    • Safely wrapping and disposing of mirror shards ([09:29])
    • Burying mirror pieces, especially under a full moon ([09:56])
    • Grinding pieces into powder ([10:33])
    • Throwing salt over one's left shoulder ([10:45])

  • Humorous practicality:

    "This is based on a House of Works article. I love how they actually are serious about telling you how to throw away a broken mirror... that's just good household advice."
    — Chuck, [09:29]

• Deliberating Full Moon Timing

  "You'd have to do a little weighing of cost benefit of keeping the mirror pieces around until a full moon... I don't know man. I don't know if the full moon would mitigate that bad luck..."
  — Chuck, [10:07]

Mirrored Glass: Good Luck or Bad?

• Other Breaking Glass Superstitions

  • Breaking regular glass can sometimes be good luck (e.g., at Greek celebrations or Jewish weddings), but in England it’s a death omen.

    "Apparently in England, breaking a glass is a death omen, which means people would be dropping like flies around me because I break glasses a lot."
    — Chuck, [10:55]

• Different Cultural Practices:

  "...it can be a celebratory thing, obviously, at a Greek celebration to ward off evil spirits, or anyone who's ever been to a Jewish wedding, stomping on that wine glass is one of the great traditions."
  — Josh, [11:18]

Other Mirror-Related Superstitions

• Covering Mirrors After Death

  • A common tradition is to cover mirrors after someone dies to prevent their soul from getting stuck or demons from crossing over.

    "...if somebody passes away, you cover the mirrors in your house... to make it so no one can see the reflection. Their soul is now wandering... if they see the reflection... they get sucked into the mirror and stuck there."
    — Chuck, [11:38]

  • Tarnishing mirrors as a sign:

    "...apparently that will cause the mirror to tarnish and maybe even turn into an image of that person who is deceased."
    — Josh, [12:03]

• Marital Superstitions and Mirror Magic

  • Edwardian British women gazed in candlelit mirrors on Halloween to see omens about their future husbands—or unlucky fates.

    "...if you wanted to know what your future husband was going to be like, or if you'd be married at all, you could sit down in front of a mirror with some candlelight."
    — Chuck, [12:53]

  • Newlyweds seeking everlasting union:

    "...after you get married and you say, I do, if you look into a mirror... you will be uniting your soul... an alternate universe where the two souls can live forever together."
    — Josh, [13:26]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mythology Meets Pop Lyrics

  "I look a little like Narcissus."
  — Josh, referencing the Indigo Girls, [03:12]

• Band Life Reflections

  "Indigo Girls aren't doing all those nasty drugs in front of that girl."
  — Josh, joking about Lucy Wainwright’s daughter touring with the band, [03:42]

• Equity in Mirror Disposal

  "I'd just get rid of it. Unless you were pretty close. Maybe two days within a full moon. That's my rule."
  — Josh, on practicality vs. superstition, [10:29]

• On Superstition Factory:

  "The mirror is just a superstition factory, apparently."
  — Chuck, [11:31]

• Chuck on English Glass-Breaking:

  "In England, breaking a glass is a death omen, which means people would be dropping like flies around me because I break glasses a lot."
  — Chuck, [10:55]

• Grandma’s Unlucky Afterlife:

  "Imagine, Chuck, if you broke your mirror, it caused your grandma to die, you replaced the mirror and your poor grandma saw her soul, saw herself in that new mirror and is trapped in it. That's a lot of bad luck."
  — Josh, [12:12]

• Marriage Destiny:

  "Very sweet." — Chuck, in response to the soul-bonding superstition, [13:47]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Origins & Greek/Roman Roots: [01:31]–[04:32]
• Soul, Bad Luck, and Seven Years: [04:32]–[05:42]
• English & Modern Superstition: [05:42]–[06:16]
• Disposing of Mirror Shards: [09:02]–[09:56]
• Burying Under Full Moon & Grinding Glass: [09:56]–[10:53]
• Breaking Non-Mirror Glass: [10:53]–[11:31]
• Other Mirror Superstitions (Death, Marriage): [11:37]–[13:49]
• Halloween Mirror Advice & Closing: [13:49]–[14:12]

Final Takeaway & Tone

Josh and Chuck keep the episode playful yet informative, balancing mythological deep-dives with sarcastic asides and relatable anecdotes. Their advice for Halloween season?

"Go out, kiss your mirror, and take very good care of it. Don't you think that's good advice?"
— Chuck, [13:51]

Or, as Josh says:

"Or just cover that thing up if you don't want to take your chances."
— Josh, [14:00]

For fans looking for an entertaining, breezy, yet surprisingly thorough rundown of the superstition behind broken mirrors, this episode delivers plenty of historical context, practical advice, and charming SYSK wit.