Folk Traditions for the Threshold
8 Traditions for your Entry
Pay heed to the tales of old wives. It may well be that they alone keep in memory what it was once needful for the wise to know.”
-tolkien
Folk traditions from around the world have long honored this pivotal area where the inner world of the home meets the outer world. These customs are not merely decorative but serve as powerful rituals to protect, bless, and sanctify the entrance to our homes.
Let’s explore 8 folk traditions that celebrate the threshold. Whether you seek to enhance protection, invite positivity, or honor the sacredness of your space, these traditions offer timeless wisdom.
A German tradition is to use vinegar to clean your entryway to keep your enemies out. Vinegar is also a great natural cleaner. The smell of vinegar is strong but is non-toxic and dissipates quickly verses chemicals that are harmful with the lingering smell people have come to associate as a “clean” smell.
In some traditions of folk magic, a threshold is blessed with a very simple method of placing a piece or iron underneath the doorstep. Some Scottish traditions call for a knife blade or a horseshoe to be buried at the lintel posts; iron is traditionally known as a material used for protection. In other areas, a doorway may be cleansed with consecrated water or smudging.
An onion or garlic braid protects everyone in the home.
Many cultures add protective animals to their doors. Fu dogs, often seen in China at the entrances of homes and palaces, are an example of this.
Salt is a powerful cleansing substance. Sprinkle it around your property boundaries and entry points to your home.
Door knobs hold spiritual significance in many religious and cultural traditions. In Christianity, for example, door knobs may be used as part of the blessing of a home, signifying protection and security for the inhabitants. In Hinduism, door knobs may be adorned with auspicious symbols and used to protect against negative energies.
Smudge (or sain) your doorway with herbs that grow around or near you. Lavender, rosemary, sage, mugwort, and cedar are good ones to use.
Blessing by asperging. This is the process of using blessed water to purify a space. Sprinkle your blessed water, wine, or milk over the threshold by dipping a bundle or herbs in it. As you do this, you can call upon the deities of your tradition for blessings.
-amanda