Funeral Service Practice Exam

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Why were mirrors covered in a deceased person's house during the 16th Century?

To prevent theft of the deceased's image
To avoid scaring away the spirit
To keep the soul from being trapped
To save the family from bad luck

The correct answer is: To keep the soul from being trapped

Covering mirrors in a deceased person's house during the 16th Century was primarily believed to be a practice intended to prevent the soul from being trapped. The cultural belief at that time held that mirrors could reflect not only the physical appearance of individuals but also their spiritual essence. When someone died, it was thought that their soul could become confused and may linger in the mirror. By covering the mirror, families aimed to provide a peaceful transition for the deceased’s spirit, allowing it to move on to the afterlife without the risk of becoming ensnared by its own reflection. In the context of the other choices, while certain beliefs associated with mirrors and spirits existed, the predominant concern was not theft of the deceased’s image, scaring away the spirit, or merely invoking feelings of bad luck for the family, but rather protecting the soul from becoming trapped in a liminal space that could arise from the reflective surface of a mirror. This custom reflects deeper notions about the afterlife and the respect afforded to the deceased during mourning periods.