Mystical meaning of night knocks on doors and windows
In the quiet, eerie hours of the night, the creaking of a door or a knock on a window pane can give you the creeps. It was believed that mysterious sounds in the middle of the night were not just a coincidence, but messages from the other world, harbingers of both good and bad luck.
Triple knocking: a harbinger of death
Among the many beliefs associated with night knocks, one of the most ominous was the triple knock. It was said that if someone heard a series of three knocks at night, it portended the imminent death of someone close to them.
This belief was based on the idea that these knocks were a warning sign, a cosmic message that the soul would soon leave the earthly realm. This ominous message was often accompanied by a grim sense that the chances of the sick person's recovery were minimal, further fueling anxiety in families.
Knocking on the absence: Inviting evil spirits
Another eerie belief claimed that if someone heard a knock at night but no one was at the door, it was an ominous sign. Such a phenomenon was interpreted as an attempt by evil spirits to enter the house. In response to this imaginary threat, people were warned not to open doors or windows to prevent these sinister creatures from entering the house.
Morning comes knocking: A weak omen
Interestingly, the time when these knocks were heard also played a significant role in their interpretation. Morning knocks were generally considered to be more benign in nature. It was believed that such phenomena portended minor household troubles that could be easily dealt with and overcome. This suggests that daylight hours were perceived as safer and less subject to the influence of otherworldly forces.
Birds and insects are messengers: Harbingers of conflict
Interestingly, it was not only the knocking of invisible entities that mattered. Birds or even insects knocking on windows or doors were considered omens of a different kind. It was believed that these sounds portended quarrels and conflicts in the family. Such beliefs emphasize the interconnectedness of nature and the human world, where even the actions of small creatures such as insects were considered to carry messages from the mystical world.