Welcome to Iran, a land with one of the world’s oldest and richest histories. The folk beliefs here, passed down through millennia, are a beautiful tapestry woven from ancient Zoroastrian traditions, Persian poetry, and Islamic spirituality. Life in Iran is deeply guided by these beliefs, especially the powerful concept of the “Cheshm Zakhm” โ the Evil Eye. From the sacredness of bread to the rituals of Nowruz (the New Year), these creencias (beliefs) are all about protecting good fortune, welcoming guests, and showing respect to the unseen world. Let’s explore this incredible culture!
The Evil Eye (Cheshm Zakhm) and Protection
The “Cheshm Zakhm” (Evil Eye)
This is the *most* important superstition. It’s the belief that a jealous or admiring look (even if unintentional) can cause immediate bad luck, illness, or failure.
Burning “Esfand” (Wild Rue)
The number one defense. When someone praises you, or after a guest leaves, you must burn **Esfand** seeds. The popping sound is the “eye” exploding, and the smoke wards off the bad energy.
Saying “Mashallah”
When you see something beautiful (especially a child), you must *immediately* say “Mashallah” (“God has willed it”) to protect it from your own “eye.”
Turquoise (Firoozeh)
Wearing a turquoise stone, especially as a ring or necklace, is believed to absorb the Evil Eye. It’s said the stone will crack or change color when it has taken a “hit” for you.
Blue Eye Charms
Like in many cultures, a blue eye-shaped charm (called *cheshm nazar*) is hung in homes, cars, and on jewelry to reflect the bad energy back to the sender.
Sprinkling Salt
Salt is a powerful purifying agent. Sprinkling salt in a new home, or on the ground after a bad guest leaves, is thought to cleanse the space.
Sacrifice (Ghorbani)
For major events like buying a new house or car, a sacrifice (often a sheep) is sometimes made to “spill blood” and prevent a much worse, accidental “spilling of blood” (like an accident).
The Decorated Egg
A common ritual involves writing the names of potential “evil eye” givers on an egg, rubbing it on the head of the “victim,” and then cracking it to break the curse.
Red Ribbons
Just like in other cultures, a red string or ribbon tied to a baby’s crib or a new car is believed to offer protection from envious stares.
Water Behind a Traveler
When someone leaves for a long trip, you must throw a bowl of water on the ground *behind* them. It ensures they will return safely, as water is a symbol of *roshani* (light/clarity).
Passing Under the Quran
Before a trip, a traveler will also pass under a **Quran** held by a family member to receive God’s blessing and protection for the journey.
“Tfu Tfu Tfu” (Spitting)
Similar to Russian and Turkish culture, making a symbolic “spitting” sound (without actually spitting) three times is a quick way to ward off a bad thought or jinx.
Hiding Good News
Don’t share your good news (a new job, a pregnancy) too soon! It’s best to wait until it’s secure, otherwise, the “Cheshm Zakhm” might ruin it before it happens.
Knocking on Wood
When you say something positive, you should “bezan be takhteh” (knock on wood) to prevent the *jinn* or bad spirits from hearing you and reversing your good fortune.
Salt and Coal
A small piece of rock salt, sometimes combined with a piece of charcoal, is often kept in a baby’s pocket or in a car as a powerful absorbent of negative energy.
“Ugly-ing” a Baby
Some parents might playfully say their beautiful baby is “ugly” or “naughty” in public to deflect the Evil Eye from strangers.
Garlic at Home
Hanging a braid of garlic in the kitchen or near the door is an ancient practice, believed to repel not just vampires, but all forms of bad luck and evil spirits.
“Nazar Ghorbani”
This is the “victim of the Evil Eye.” People will often say this about themselves (“May I be the victim for you”) as a form of *taarof* (politeness) to protect the other person.
The Color Blue
The color blue itself, especially cobalt or turquoise blue, is considered a protective color. You’ll see it on gates, doors, and in pottery all over Iran.
Jumping Over Fire (Chaharshanbe Suri)
On the last Tuesday night of the year, people jump over bonfires, chanting “My yellow (sickness) for you, your red (health) for me,” to purify themselves for Nowruz.
Daily Life, Home, and Guests
The Sneeze (Sabr)
If you sneeze once, you must **stop** what you’re doing. It’s a warning from above. You must have *sabr* (patience) and wait a moment before continuing.
Two Sneezes
If you sneeze twice, it’s a confirmation! It means you *should* continue what you’re doing; it’s the right path. (Some say it just cancels the first sneeze).
Itchy Left Palm
If your **left palm** starts to itch, get ready! It means a good sum of money is about to come *into* your hand.
Itchy Right Palm
Uh oh. If your **right palm** itches, it means you’re about to *lose* money or have an unexpected expense. (Some say the reverse, but this is common!)
The Sacredness of Bread (Naan)
Bread is a holy gift from God. You must *never* let it touch the floor. If a piece falls, you must pick it up, kiss it, and place it somewhere safe (like a garden wall).
Sweeping at Night
Never sweep your house after the sun goes down. It’s believed you will “sweep away” your *barakat* (fortune or blessings) from the home.
Looking in a Mirror at Night
It’s bad luck to stare into a mirror in a dark room or late at night. It’s believed you might see a *jinn* (spirit) or invite one into your home.
Spilled Salt
Spilling salt is a bad omen, a sign of impending conflict or a fight. (This is separate from *intentionally* sprinkling salt for protection).
Spilled Black Pepper
Spilling black pepper is *also* a sign of a coming argument. Basically, be careful with your spices!
Spilled Tea
Unlike salt or pepper, accidentally spilling tea is a *good* sign! It means unexpected good luck or a guest is on the way.
Spilled Water
Spilling clean water (on the floor, on a table) is also a good omen. It’s a sign of *roshani* (lightness/clarity) and that good things are coming.
Stepping Over Someone
Never step over a person who is lying or sitting on the floor. It is believed to stop their growth or bring them bad luck. You must step back over them to reverse it.
Sleeping with Feet to the Door
It’s bad luck to sleep with your feet pointing directly at the door of the room. This is the position the dead are carried out, so it’s considered inviting death.
Cutting Nails at Night
You should not cut your fingernails or toenails after sunset. It’s believed to shorten your life or bring bad luck to your family.
Reading Coffee Grounds
After finishing a cup of Turkish coffee, it’s very common to have your fortune told (*fal-e qahveh*) by someone who can “read” the shapes left in the sediment.
Upside-Down Shoe
If you see a shoe that is sole-up, you must flip it over immediately. An upside-down shoe is a sign of a coming fight, bad luck, or disrespect to God.
Guest is a “Gift from God”
It’s believed that a guest brings their own *barakat* (blessing/fortune) with them, and when they leave, they take the family’s sins with them.
The “Sabzeh” (Sprouts)
For Nowruz, every home grows *sabzeh* (wheat or lentil sprouts). This absorbs all the bad luck and negativity of the household for the year.
Sizdah Bedar (“13th Outdoors”)
The 13th day of the New Year is considered *extremely* unlucky. Everyone *must* leave their house and spend the day outdoors to “throw away” the bad luck of the 13th.
Throwing Away the Sabzeh
At the end of Sizdah Bedar, you throw your *sabzeh* (which has all the bad luck) into a flowing river or stream to be washed away.
Yalda Night Watermelon
On *Shab-e Yalda* (the longest night of the year), you must eat watermelon. It’s believed to protect you from getting sick during the coming winter.
Fal-e Hafez (Hafez Fortune)
When you have a question or need guidance, you open a book of poetry by the famous poet Hafez at random. The poem you land on is your *fal* (fortune/answer).
New Moon
Seeing the new moon for the first time each month is a moment to make a wish. Some also look at a mirror or a green thing (like a plant) right after.
Dropping a Spoon
If you drop a spoon, it means a **female guest** is on her way to your house.
Dropping a Fork
If you drop a fork, it means a **male guest** is coming to visit.
Dropping a Knife
If you drop a knife, it’s a bad sign. It means an argument or fight is about to happen.
Passing Salt
Never hand a salt shaker directly to someone. You must place it on the table for them to pick up. Handing it over is said to start a fight.
Blowing Out a Candle
It’s bad form to blow out a candle (especially a prayer candle). It’s believed to be disrespectful to the “light.” You should pinch it out or snuff it.
Don’t Point at the Sun/Moon
It’s considered very disrespectful to point directly at the sun or the moon. It’s like pointing at a holy face.
Giving Soap as a Gift
You shouldn’t give soap or perfume as a gift. It’s believed to “wash away” the friendship or love between two people.
Omens, Animals, and The Body
Ringing Ears
If your ears are ringing, someone is talking about you. If it’s the right ear, they’re saying good things. If it’s the left ear, they’re gossiping badly about you.
Twitching Eyelid
A twitching eyelid is an omen. For some, the right eye is good news and the left is bad. For others, a top lid twitch is a guest, and a bottom lid twitch is tears.
Hiccups
If you suddenly get hiccups, it means someone, somewhere, is gossiping or talking about you *right now*.
Dreaming of Falling Teeth
This is a very serious bad omen. Dreaming that your teeth are falling out is believed to signal the impending death of a family member.
The Owl (Joghd)
Hearing an owl hoot is often considered a *very bad omen*. It’s called the “bird of ruins” and is associated with sadness, desolation, and death.
The Crow (Kalagh)
A crow cawing nearby is also a bad sign. It’s seen as a messenger of bad news or an unwelcome guest. “Kalagh par!” (“Crow feather!”) is used to dismiss bad news.
Black Cat Crossing
Like in many places, a black cat crossing your path is bad luck. You should wait for someone else to cross the path first or say a prayer.
Don’t Harm a Cat
While a *black* cat is a bad omen, harming *any* cat is considered a great sin that will bring you 7 years of bad luck. Cats are generally respected.
Dog Howling at Night
If a dog is howling mournfully in the night, it’s a sign that it sees spirits or that a death is about to occur in the neighborhood.
Spider in the House
Finding a spider in the house is often a *good* sign. It means a guest is coming, or it’s bringing good fortune. You shouldn’t kill it.
Ants in the House
Finding a line of ants in your house means *barakat* (blessings/abundance) is entering your home. It’s a sign of prosperity, not just a pest.
Dove (Kabootar)
Doves are a sign of good luck, peace, and messages from loved ones. Having them near your home is a blessing.
Broken Mirror
A classic: breaking a mirror will bring you **seven years** of bad luck. You must immediately gather the pieces and bury them or throw them in running water.
Cracked Dish
Eating from a cracked or chipped dish is considered bad luck. It’s like inviting poverty or “brokenness” into your life.
“Crying” Candle
If a candle drips an excessive amount of wax (“crying”), it’s a sign that spirits are present or that sadness is near.
Sudden Wind
A sudden gust of wind that opens a door or window is seen as a spirit (*jinn*) entering or passing through the room.
Bird in the House
If a wild bird (especially a sparrow) flies into your house, it’s a sign of news. You must let it out immediately, or it could be a bad omen.
Shoes Facing the Door
When you take your shoes off, don’t leave them pointing *towards* the door. It means you will be “walking out” and leaving the house (or family) soon.
Don’t Point at a Rainbow
It’s bad luck to point at a rainbow. It’s seen as a divine sign, and pointing is disrespectful. Some say your finger will fall off or become crooked.
Dreaming of the Dead
If a deceased loved one appears in your dream, they are trying to give you a message. If they ask for food, it means you should give charity in their name.
Itchy Foot
If the bottom of your foot itches, it means you are about to go on a journey.
Yawn Contagion
If you yawn and someone else “catches” it, it’s a sign of a strong bond between you. But yawning itself is said to invite the devil, so you must cover your mouth.
A Flickering Flame
A candle or fire flame that suddenly flickers or sputters for no reason means a spirit is nearby or there is an argument in the air.
Bats
Unlike in China, bats in Iran are often seen as bad omens, associated with darkness, ruins, and bad luck. (This can vary by region).
Clover (Yonjeh)
Finding a four-leaf clover is also considered good luck in Iran, a symbol of good fortune and a happy omen.
Love, Marriage, and Rituals
Tying the Sprouts (Sizdah Bedar)
On the 13th day of the New Year, unmarried girls must tie a knot in the *sabzeh* (sprouts) before throwing it away, while making a wish to get married soon.
The Salty Bread Dream
An old belief says an unmarried girl should eat a piece of very salty bread before bed. The man who brings her water in her dream will be her future husband.
“Qashogh Zani” (Spoon-Banging)
On Chaharshanbe Suri, people (especially children) go door-to-door, banging spoons on bowls while disguised. They are given snacks, and it’s good luck for all.
“Aash-e Reshteh” (Noodle Soup)
Eating this special noodle soup around Nowruz is essential. The noodles (reshteh) symbolize “taking hold of the string of life” and having good fortune in the year ahead.
Honey at the Wedding
During the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom dip their pinky fingers in a cup of honey and feed it to each other, ensuring a “sweet” life together.
Grinding Sugar Cones
At the wedding, female relatives hold a cloth over the bride and groom’s heads and grind two sugar cones together, “showering” them with sweetness and good luck.
Don’t See the Bride
It’s considered bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress before the *aghd* (ceremony) begins.
Gifting a Knife
Never give a knife or scissors as a gift. It is believed to “cut” the friendship. If you must, the recipient should “buy” it from you with a single, small coin.
Gifting a Clock
Gifting a clock is also bad luck. It’s seen as counting down the time left in the relationship or the person’s life.
Wearing Black
It’s considered bad luck to wear black clothing for happy occasions like weddings or Nowruz. Black is reserved for mourning (Muharram) or funerals.
The Bride’s “Baleh” (Yes)
During the ceremony, the officiant asks the bride for her “yes” (baleh) three times. She must stay silent the first two times, to show coyness and make the groom “work” for it.
Apples for Fertility
Apples are a huge symbol of health and fertility. An apple is always on the *Haft-Sin* (Nowruz table) and is often part of wedding displays.
Coins (Sekkeh)
Gold coins are a symbol of wealth and are also present on the Haft-Sin table to attract prosperity for the new year.
The Goldfish
A live goldfish is kept on the Nowruz table. It symbolizes life, and it’s said that at the exact moment of the New Year, the fish *stops* and turns in its bowl.
Garlic (Seer) on the Haft-Sin
Garlic is placed on the Nowruz table as a symbol of *sehat* (health) and to ward off illness and bad spirits for the coming year.
Sumac on the Haft-Sin
This red spice is on the table to symbolize the color of the sunrise and the patience and spice of life.
Vinegar (Serkeh) on the Haft-Sin
Vinegar represents age, patience, and the wisdom that comes with time. It’s for accepting the “sour” parts of life.
Samanu on the Haft-Sin
This sweet wheat germ pudding represents *barakat* (blessing) and affluence. It’s a symbol of a rich and fertile year.
Sitting on an Empty Chair
Don’t sit on a chair that someone just got up from. You must wait for it to “cool down,” or you might “take” their bad luck or illness.
Hiding a Pregnancy
Like hiding good news, a woman should not announce her pregnancy for the first three months, as it’s very vulnerable to the Evil Eye.
“Al-e Nasl” (Jinn of Childbirth)
An old, terrifying belief in a *jinn* that steals newborn babies or harms the mother. This is why a new mother and baby should not be left alone for 40 days.
Knife Under the Pillow
To protect a newborn from the *Al* jinn, a knife or a piece of steel is often placed under the baby’s pillow.
The 40-Day Rule
A new mother and her baby should stay indoors and rest for 40 days after birth to regain strength and stay protected from illness and the Evil Eye.
“A bird flew from my heart”
If you are suddenly startled or scared, you might say this. It’s a folk expression that means your heart “fluttered” with fear, which can be a bad omen.
Right Foot First
When entering a home, a holy place, or starting a journey, always step with your **right foot** first to bring good luck. The left foot is for leaving or for unclean places.
Cultural & Scholarly Resources on Iranian Beliefs
To show our commitment to well-researched content, we’re happy to share some of the resources that inform our articles. These are great starting points for further reading on Persia’s rich cultural traditions.
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Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts (MCTH)
โ The official body of Iran for preserving cultural and historical heritage. -
Culture of Iran – Wikipedia
โ A comprehensive overview of Iranian customs, arts, and traditions. -
Nowruz (Persian New Year) – Wikipedia
โ Details on the most important Iranian holiday and its many symbolic rituals, like the Haft-Sin. -
Evil Eye – Wikipedia
โ Provides global context for the belief, including its powerful interpretation in Persian culture as “Cheshm Zakhm.” -
Zoroastrianism – Wikipedia
โ Information on the ancient Persian religion whose concepts of purity, light, and fire still influence many folk beliefs today. -
Taarof – Wikipedia
โ While not a superstition, understanding this complex system of Iranian politeness is key to understanding the social beliefs of the culture.