Seven years bad luck
Meaning
The superstition that breaking a mirror will lead to seven consecutive years of misfortune for the person responsible.
Origin
The ominous belief in "seven years bad luck" after breaking a mirror traces its roots back to ancient Rome. The Romans, like many ancient cultures, believed that mirrors were not just reflective surfaces but sacred tools that contained a fragment of the owner's soul. To break a mirror was not merely to shatter glass, but to fracture one's very essence, leaving the soul vulnerable to misfortune. The "seven years" component stemmed from an ancient Roman belief that the body and soul renewed themselves in cycles of seven years. Thus, it would take a full seven-year cycle for the damaged soul to fully regenerate, cleanse itself of the bad luck, and heal from the spiritual trauma of the broken reflection.
Examples
- I just dropped my handheld mirror, and now I'm worried I'll have seven years bad luck.
- She scoffed at her friend's concern, reminding him that seven years bad luck was just an old wives' tale.