Placing a broom behind the door is believed to keep witches and evil spirits away.

Placing a Broom Behind the Door to Ward off Witches

Details

The superstition involves placing a broom — typically a household sweeping broom made of straw or twigs — upright or laid flat behind the main entrance door of a home. The act is believed to confuse or repel witches or evil spirits seeking entry. In some versions, the bristles absorb or deflect negative energy; in others, the straw or broom shape has symbolic protective meaning. Often, the broom is left undisturbed behind the door overnight or during perceived times of spiritual risk, such as Halloween or after confrontations. While no rituals accompany the act, it relies on passive placement and symbolic interference with supernatural entities.

Historical Context

This belief stems from European witchcraft fears during the 15th to 17th centuries, when witch hunts spread and people feared invisible spiritual attacks. The broom became a powerful symbol in such folklore — not only associated with witches who were supposedly seen flying on them, but also as protective household items. In agrarian and folk cultures, brooms represented both cleanliness and magical tools. By placing one at entry points, households believed they could cleanse or bar evil beings, particularly witches, from crossing thresholds. This belief was common in rural England, Germany, and parts of Eastern Europe where home protection charms were widely practiced.

Modern Relevance

In modern times, the practice has largely faded but occasionally resurfaces in spiritual or folk remedies promoted in books, online forums, or social media discussing protective home rituals. It may still be adopted by individuals interested in folk magic, pagan paths like Wicca, or in culturally preserved traditions in rural parts of Eastern Europe and the Southern United States. Some see the act as symbolic mindfulness about home energy, fear of invasion (metaphysical or otherwise), or household cleansing. While no longer mainstream, it endures in some communities maintaining ancestral superstitions or exploring alternative spiritualities.

Sources

Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ‘Witchcraft in the Middle Ages.’ Cornell University Press, 1972.

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