No one likes flies. They show up uninvited, hover around food, and seem to appear at exactly the wrong moment. But as annoying as they are, flies have carried symbolic meaning for centuries. Long before fly swatters and window screens, people paid close attention to insects and what their presence might signal.
Across cultures, flies were seen as messengers, warnings, or symbols connected to decay, transition, and unseen forces. Whether these beliefs came from observation or imagination, they’ve stuck around far longer than you might expect.
Here are some of the most common omens and superstitions linked to flies.
Fly Symbolism in Religions and Cultures
Flies appear in religious and cultural symbolism more often than people realize, and rarely in a flattering role.
In Christianity, Beelzebub is known as the “Lord of the Flies,” associating flies with corruption and darker forces. In some Islamic traditions, flies are mentioned among creatures of Paradise, giving them a more neutral role. Certain African belief systems associate flies with spirits of the dead, viewing them as beings that move between worlds.
Ancient Egyptians made clear distinctions between insects. While the scarab beetle symbolized rebirth and renewal, flies were linked to decay and impermanence. Because flies appeared around waste and dying matter, they became symbols of mortality.
In Hindu traditions, flies are sometimes associated with reincarnation and the temporary nature of physical life. Their short lifespan reflects the belief that the body is brief, while the soul continues its journey.
In parts of Chinese and Japanese folklore, a single fly in the home can indicate secret admiration or attention. On the other hand, many flies together are seen as a warning that something unpleasant may be approaching.
A Fly in the House Means an Unwelcome Visitor
One of the most well-known superstitions says that a fly entering your home signals an unwanted visitor. This belief likely came from everyday observation. Flies enter through unnoticed gaps, just as unexpected guests arrive without warning. Over time, the two became linked.
According to folklore, a fly buzzing persistently indoors suggests someone will show up uninvited. It might be a relative you’d rather avoid, a neighbor stopping by unexpectedly, or someone bringing news you didn’t ask for. In this case, the fly acts as a symbol of intrusion rather than the cause.
Flies Around a Sick Person Signal Death
This superstition comes from a time when illness and death were closely observed at home.
Before modern medicine, families noticed that flies gathered around those who were seriously ill. As strength faded, flies became more visible, drawn by warmth or subtle changes in the body. This led to the belief that flies appeared when death was near.
Some thought flies were messengers collecting the soul. Others believed they were simply responding to physical decay. Either way, flies near a sick person became an unsettling sign.
Today, this belief is mostly historical. Seeing flies near someone who’s ill doesn’t predict death, but the association remains deeply rooted in folklore.
Shooing Flies Away Brings Bad Luck
In some traditions, shooing or killing flies was believed to bring misfortune.
Flies were thought to carry spirits or act as vessels for wandering souls. Disturbing them was seen as disrespectful to the dead or to unseen forces connected to nature. In parts of European folklore, flies were linked to fairies or natural spirits, and harming them could invite illness or bad luck.
Because of this, people were advised to let flies leave on their own rather than aggressively chasing them away.
A Fly Following You Could Be a Spirit Messenger
A fly that seems to follow you persistently has long been associated with spiritual attention.
Some folklore suggests that spirits or deceased loved ones may appear as insects to observe or communicate. If a fly keeps hovering near you, landing repeatedly, or staying unusually close, it’s believed to be more than coincidence.
People were encouraged to notice what they were thinking or feeling at the moment. The fly was thought to appear when attention was needed or when something unseen was present.
Of course, not every fly carries meaning. But when its presence feels oddly persistent, folklore invites you to pause rather than dismiss it immediately.
Flies as Weather Predictors
Flies have also been linked to weather prediction.
An increase in fly activity, especially indoors, has traditionally been associated with incoming rain. This belief comes from observation rather than mysticism. Changes in humidity and air pressure affect insect behavior, and flies often become more active or seek shelter before rain.
While not an exact forecast, people learned to associate buzzing flies with changing weather patterns.
