Opening an umbrella indoors is said to result in 21 days of bad luck. Some traditions hold that it is only bad luck if the umbrella is placed over the head of someone while indoors.
Why Opening Umbrellas Indoors Is Considered Bad Luck
You've probably heard someone gasp when an umbrella pops open indoors. But where does this superstition actually come from? Turns out, there are several theories—and unlike the specific "21 days" claim that circulates online, the historical record shows this belief is more about general misfortune than a precise countdown.
Ancient Egyptian Sun Protection Politics
The earliest version of this superstition stretches back to ancient Egypt, where umbrellas weren't for rain—they were parasols shielding nobility from the scorching sun. These ornate canopies, often covered in peacock feathers, represented the sky goddess Nut, whose body was believed to arch over the heavens.
Opening one of these sacred umbrellas indoors was considered a direct insult to the sun god Ra. The shadow cast by a noble's umbrella was thought to be spiritually significant, linked to the afterlife itself. Bringing that outdoor protection inside? Not a good look in the eyes of Egyptian deities.
Victorian-Era Death Traps
Fast forward to 19th-century England, where the modern metal-framed umbrella was perfected by Samuel Fox. These weren't the smooth-operating brollies we use today—they were spring-loaded hazards with hard metal spokes that could literally put an eye out.
The superstition likely got reinforced during this era as a practical safety warning. When your umbrella has stiff spring triggers and can violently snap open in a confined space, knocking over lamps or injuring bystanders, "bad luck" becomes a polite way of saying "you might break something or hurt someone."
Household Spirits Don't Appreciate the Gesture
European folklore added another layer: the belief that protective spirits reside in homes, and opening an umbrella indoors offends them. Some traditions warned that pixies, goblins, or fairies live inside upturned objects, and cracking open an umbrella releases these mischievous beings into your space.
Others believed that umbrellas symbolized the protective "canopy of the sky," and using one indoors suggested you didn't trust your home's guardian spirits to keep you safe. Rude.
The Missing 21 Days
While searching through historical sources, folklore archives, and superstition databases, there's no documented tradition specifying that umbrella-induced bad luck lasts exactly 21 days. This appears to be a modern embellishment, possibly confused with other superstitions or invented for internet sharing.
The original belief simply warned of bad luck—no expiration date included. Some sources mention that the bad luck applies specifically when the umbrella is held over someone's head indoors, which tracks with both the Egyptian sacred canopy concept and Victorian injury concerns.
National Rebellion Day
The superstition remains so culturally embedded that March 13 is officially "National Open An Umbrella Indoors Day," created specifically to challenge this belief. Thousands of people deliberately open umbrellas inside each year, testing whether misfortune really follows.
So far, no verified reports of deity wrath or 21-day curse cycles. Just occasional knocked-over coffee mugs and startled cats.