Sleeping with your head or feet to the window: beliefs and reality
There are many folk signs and beliefs related to how to sleep and how to place the bed in the room. One of these beliefs claims that sleeping with your head or feet facing the window can lead to negative consequences for your health, fate, and well-being. But where did this belief come from and how much truth is in it?
According to ancient beliefs, the window is seen as an important link between the interior and exterior space, often considered a portal to the other worlds. It was believed that evil spirits could enter a sleeping person through a window and bring illness, misfortune, or even death.
Therefore, people took great care to place their beds as far away from windows and doors as possible to avoid any influence from evil spirits.
It was especially dangerous to sleep with your feet facing the window, as this imitated the position in which the deceased was taken out of the house. Thus, a person who slept in this way was perceived as either bringing death or preparing for it. In addition, if you slept with your feet facing the window, you could see the outside world at night, which could cause anxiety or fear in an ordinary person.
Sleeping with your head to the window was also discouraged, as it was believed to lead to a loss of vitality, luck, and happiness. According to these beliefs, more energy flowed through the head than through the legs, making those who slept with their heads to the window more vulnerable to negative influences. In addition, in this position, a person could be exposed to drafts, light, or street noise, which could disrupt a peaceful and restful sleep.
Current research is examining the impact of bed positioning on sleep quality and overall well-being. However, this data is based more on practical considerations such as temperature, lighting, ventilation, and safety than on traditional beliefs and superstitions. Therefore, when deciding where to place your bed, it is advisable to put your personal comfort and convenience first.