Buzz
For some, sleep is a source of joy, while others see it as an unproductive use of time. For many, it’s just a daily necessity, often overlooked and rarely pondered. But why is it essential? What’s the ideal way to sleep? Why do dreams occur, and do they hold any significance?
Throughout history, these questions have intrigued people across nearly every society. Numerous theories have emerged, with the most popular or convincing ones becoming ingrained in various cultures. From decoding dreams to irrational fears of suffocation, this list explores 10 peculiar beliefs about sleep and dreams from different parts of the world.
10. Ancient Egyptians Believed People Did Not Dream
The Ancient Egyptians' views on dreams shifted over time. Records dating back to 2600–664 BC indicate they didn’t believe people dreamed—at least not in the modern, active sense. While they experienced dreams, they didn’t attribute them to the dreamer’s mind. Instead, dreams, referred to as “resut” or “awakening,” were thought to exist independently, outside the sleeper’s consciousness, and were not seen as a product of the psyche.
This concept was embedded in their language, where “dream” was not an action one could perform. Instead, it was something observed or a realm where visions occurred. Dreams were seen as a bridge between the physical world and the afterlife, enabling dreamers to interact with deities and the deceased. This made them a common theme in ancient Egyptian tales, poetry, and music, much like their role in modern storytelling.
9. Some Ancient Greeks Thought Dreams Could Diagnose and Cure Illnesses
Many ancient Greeks believed certain dreams could reveal insights about the past, present, and future. These were considered “true” dreams, while “false” dreams held no significance, even if interpreted accurately. Dreams caused by gods or demons were deemed “divine,” whereas those stemming from the dreamer’s physical condition were labeled “natural.” Prominent figures in ancient medicine, such as Hippocrates and Galen, believed natural and true dreams could offer insights into hidden bodily processes.
Hippocrates attempted to explain how dreams conveyed this information, while others accepted it as truth and used dreams to aid in diagnosing illnesses. Divine dreams were also seen as medically useful, as patients could receive guidance about their ailments or even be healed by a visitation from a deity like Asclepius. The sick often sought such divine encounters by sleeping in temples dedicated to these gods, a practice known as “incubation.”
8. Guatemalan Worry Dolls
Children often sleep with inanimate objects like teddy bears for comfort, but the Mayan tradition takes this a step further. Their version, known as worry dolls or “Muñeca quitapena,” is believed to help children resolve their problems as they sleep. These small, handmade figures, crafted from wire, wool, and fabric scraps, are often vibrant and dressed in traditional Mayan attire, wedding gowns, or even doctor’s coats.
Before bed, children confide their worries to these dolls and tuck them under their pillows. They trust that by morning, the dolls will have granted them the insight needed to overcome their troubles. This tradition originates from the Mayan tale of Princess Ixmucane, who received a divine gift from the sun god, enabling her to resolve any problem that troubled others.
7. Thai Dream Interpretations Are Highly Detailed
While tourists might overlook it, superstition is deeply rooted in Thai culture. With practices ranging from fortune-telling to black magic, dreams hold significant meaning for the Thai people. Unlike other cultures that rely on experts, Thais have specific interpretations for a vast array of often peculiar dream scenarios.
Dreamt of losing a tooth? In Thai belief, this foretells the death of a relative. If the tooth was from the upper jaw, the relative is from your father’s side; if from the lower jaw, they are from your mother’s side.
If you dream of a snake coiling around your body, it’s a positive sign, indicating you’ll soon encounter your soulmate. To increase your chances of winning a lottery or similar lucky draw, watch for visions of dead bodies. However, avoid kissing living people in your dreams, as it’s believed to bring misfortune, akin to falling off a buffalo.
6. The Polish Used Dreams to Predict Lottery Numbers
Recalling dreams can be challenging, but between the 17th and 20th centuries, Poles had a compelling reason to try. They believed objects seen in dreams could reveal winning lottery numbers. As lotteries evolved from a niche pastime in the 1700s to a widespread craze in the 1800s, dream interpretation books became increasingly popular.
These guides helped gamblers decode their dreams and convert dream symbols into betting numbers. For instance, a 1832 book advised betting on number 66 for dreams of a stomach or number 29 for plucking a pepper. A 1920 dream book not only provided numerical suggestions but also predicted the dreamer’s future. Dreaming of tombstones, for example, hinted at losing a friend but also suggested betting on number 70 for potential wealth.
5. Romanian Girls Place Basil Under Their Pillows to Find Their Prince Charming
Boboteaza Day, or Epiphany Day, is a Romanian celebration of Christ’s baptism, held on January 6th. The day is marked by various traditions, including men racing into icy rivers or lakes to retrieve a wooden cross thrown by a priest. The winner is said to receive blessings for the year. Thankfully, Romanian women are spared this chilly challenge.
Instead, women have their own tradition to discover their future spouse—by dreaming of them. Before bed, they place a sprig of basil under their pillow. In some regions, girls also eat a salty bun to induce thirst, hoping to dream of a man offering water, who they believe will be their future husband. If the dream doesn’t occur, they get another chance on June 23rd, this time using lady’s bedstraw flowers under their pillow.
4. Koreans Think Sleeping with a Fan On Can Be Fatal
While fans are commonly used worldwide to stay cool during hot nights, some South Koreans grow up fearing that sleeping with a fan on in a closed room can lead to death, either from hypothermia or asphyxiation. Despite no scientific evidence supporting this, the belief persists.
One theory suggests this modern myth masks a more uncomfortable truth: many so-called “fan deaths” among young people may actually be alcohol-related. The superstition is so widespread that South Korean fan manufacturers include timers to reassure users the fan will turn off while they sleep.
3. Widows of the Luo Tribe Shared Sleeping Spaces with Their Deceased Husbands
The Luo, a prominent African ethnic group found in western Kenya, northern Uganda, and northern Tanzania, maintain several traditional practices, some of which are viewed as controversial by outsiders. These customs, upheld by the Luo—also called Joluo or Jonagi—persist even in contemporary times.
One such tradition, now discontinued, involved widows sleeping beside their deceased husband’s body before burial. The widow was expected to dream of her late husband, who would visit her for a final act of intimacy. This dream was seen as a sign of her liberation and purification, allowing her to remarry. If the dream did not occur, additional cleansing rituals were required to prepare her for remarriage.
2. An Indian Village Where Everyone Sleeps on the Floor
In Tipirisinga village, Odisha, India, visitors are offered thin mattresses made of date palm leaves or wooden slats to sleep on. This is not due to a lack of hospitality; the entire village has slept this way for generations. None of the 300 residents use beds, even when ill, as the predominantly tribal community believes sleeping on a bed would anger their village goddess, Barihani.
The goddess Barihani expresses her displeasure with bed use by causing beds to collapse, sending snakes into the sleeper’s home, or creating other disturbances for the family. Many villagers claim to have witnessed such events, so everyone adheres to the rules set by the village priest, Kalo. Out of respect for Barihani, villagers avoid drinking from a fountain near her temple and hold an annual festival that often includes animal sacrifices.
1. Some Western Cultures Think Sleeping Alone Fosters Independence in Babies
Exhausted parents in the UK and other Western cultures often strive to get their babies to sleep longer at night. Methods range from letting babies cry alone to enrolling in “sleep schools” for training. A prevalent social myth suggests that night-waking is abnormal for babies, and parents believe encouraging solo sleep will help their children grow into independent adults.
These beliefs are uncommon in many other societies, where children often share beds or rooms with parents for years yet still develop into healthy, independent individuals. Historically, such expectations didn’t exist and have only emerged in recent decades, despite no significant changes in infant biology. However, interrupted sleep has been linked to higher risks of postpartum depression in parents, suggesting these myths may aim to protect parents by promoting uninterrupted baby sleep.
