Doorways
Doorways are inevitable, whether you are leaving your house, entering a subway station, or hiding from wolves in a cave. People have had to cross doorways from what seems like the beginning of time, which is why doorways hold such a universal place in human stories. Doorways are not always physical, they can be portals to an alternate world or your eyes being the windows to the soul. For these reasons, humans across the millennia have placed symbols, trinkets, and charms in their doorways.
Neolithic caves had symbols on the entrances to signify if the cave was occupied or dangerous. The Sumerians hung sacred symbols or protective charms on their doorways, often in the form of amulets, inscribed stones, or symbols of deities. They would touch these items whenever they entered or exited the house. In the Old Testament, God instructed his followers to draw a symbol on their door so their firstborn sons would not be killed. These little rituals have permeated into our modern world, even if mostly in a secular manner. In the eastern Mediterranean, almost every household will have a horseshoe, an evil eye, or a piece of scripture above their doorway. Witches keep broomsticks over the door to keep the negative energy outside. My hippie friend (Frankie, co-editor of Folkloric) for some reason keeps hitting me with her broomstick anytime I come over. Apparently, I give off “a bad vibe.” Jewish people all over the world place a mezuzah on the doorposts of their homes. It is a small parchment scroll inscribed with Hebrew verses and when passing it, they touch it and kiss their fingers as a sign of respect.
On a ritualistic level, Russians believe that once you have exited the doorway of the house, you should only step back in after looking at the mirror. That is why mirrors are traditionally placed at the entrance of a house, facing the doors. You should also never embrace or greet someone at the door, but wait until they step over the threshold. Russians also spill a bit of water on the threshold when entering a new home or upon returning from a trip. The Greeks traditionally spit thrice when entering a house. However, it is mostly the gesture of spitting or every house would have to have a spit bucket next to the shoe rack. In Hindu culture, when a bride enters her new home after marriage, she often performs a ritual called "Laxmi Poojan" where she steps over a small bowl of rice placed on the threshold to symbolize prosperity and blessings entering her new home. In Romania, when entering a home, especially after being away for a while, some people have the custom of turning around three times before stepping inside. You could spice this up by putting your right hand in and then out and doing the Hokey Pokey. Vampires notoriously cannot enter a threshold without being invited in so make sure to check stranger’s fangs before you utter anything.
Doors and doorways are guardians and portals whether it be real or symbolic. In modern sci-fi these doorways have become portals, wormholes and teleportation stations. What hangs outside your door or what ritual do you perform when entering a new space? What new stories of doorways and portals can we write in a new era of uncertainty and exploration?
[originally posted to Patreon on 23/2/25]
