On old funeral ways, why is salt left on the windowsill?

Question

I know about putting a string on the beehive if the owner dies, and I know about stopping the clocks, but why cover the mirrors also? What other old ways are followed that you know of?

Answer 1

Salt is left out to keep the bad spirits away, especially as the body was nearly always kept in a room in the house.

Answer 2

Salt has always been used as a purifying agent and it is also used by exorcists in Holy water to expel demons so the salt would be seen as keeping evil spirits away from the dead person.

Answer 3

Salt is left because it was/is thought that spirits can't cross over it. It is also used as a purifier and to aid in casting out spirits who have lost their way (so to speak), and represents Earth.

Answer 4

salt represent sea. Some culture believe that the soul of the deceased will fly over the sea to go to the nude beach first. Therefore, the salt is meant to remind them. Adios . SAyonara

Answer 5

yep