The flies that always show up when you’re trying to have a picnic are so annoying, aren’t they? I am sure everyone finds it frustrating when those buzzing little flies won’t leave your food alone.
It may come as a surprise but flies have actually played a part in all sorts of supernatural beliefs and omens over the years. All around the world, different cultures have their own ideas about what flies might symbolize and whether seeing one means good luck or bad luck is coming your way.
Fly Symbolism In Religions And Cultures
Flies have been significant in many belief systems and mythologies. In Christianity, Beelzebub is the “Lord of the Flies,” a prince of demons. According to Islamic belief, flies are one of the animals in Paradise. In some African mythologies, flies are spirits of the dead.
Ancient Egypt: The scarab beetle, which rolls dung into a ball, was a sacred symbol of renewal and rebirth for ancient Egyptians. The fly, as a winged carrier of disease, was associated with decay and death. Egyptians believed flies were generated spontaneously from dung and unclean substances.
In Hinduism, flies are associated with reincarnation and the human soul. The fly’s short life is a symbol of the temporary nature of human existence and the soul’s journey from life to life. The fly is also linked to Lord Shiva, the god of death and destruction.
In Chinese and Japanese culture, a single fly in the home is believed to signify that you have a secret admirer. However, swarms of flies indicate misfortune or that something awful is about to happen.
“A Fly In The House Means An Unwelcome Visitor Is Coming”
Have you ever heard about how if a fly gets inside, you’ll have some guests show up? There might be something to that old saying. Folklore says that a fly buzzing around inside means someone you don’t want to see will show up soon.
Flies like to hang out in places that are warm and have scraps of food around. So, if a fly gets into your home, it probably means there’s a small opening outside that you didn’t notice. In this case, the unwanted guest is the fly itself! But the old wives’ tale also applies to people visitors you aren’t expecting.
If a fly is zipping around your living room, it could mean someone you’d rather avoid will show up at your door. Maybe an annoying relative, a “fair weather friend” looking for a favor, or a nosy neighbor stopping by unannounced. The fly is supposedly a sign that an unwelcome guest will come barging in and bug you in your own place.
“Flies Gathering On A Sick Person Signifies Impending Death”
Flies are drawn to ill or dying creatures, sensing an impending death. According to old folklore, this is a bad omen and signifies that death is close at hand.
Back in the old days before modern medicine, most people would pass away at home in their own beds. As the sick person got weaker and weaker, more and more flies would start buzzing around them, just waiting for them to kick the bucket. The family taking care of the sick person would see all the flies and know the end was near.
Some people believed the flies were actually agents of death itself, coming to collect the soul from the body. Others thought flies simply liked the smell of a body starting to decay or were attracted to the warmth and moisture around the eyes and mouth of a sick person.
Seeing flies by a sick person’s bedside doesn’t automatically mean they’ll die, but it can still be quite unsettling. Just gently shoo the flies away.
“Shooing Flies Away Brings Bad Luck”
According to old folklore, swatting at or shooing flies away can bring misfortune. Some believe flies carry spirits or are even reincarnated souls. Agitating them is thought to upset these spirits and bring bad luck.
In many cultures, flies were thought to be linked to death and the spirit world. Swatting them away could disturb spirits or souls attached to the flies. Some believed the flies themselves were reincarnated souls. Either way, irritating the flies meant annoying the dead, which was sure to bring bad fortune.
Flies were also thought to be connected to nature spirits or faeries in some folklore. Shooing the flies, especially killing them, showed disrespect to these spirits. They might retaliate with sickness, poor harvests, or other misfortunes. It was best to calmly ignore the flies and allow them to go on their way.
“A Fly Following You Could Be A Visitor From The Other Side”
Have you ever noticed a fly that just seems to be following you around? In folklore, that could actually be a spirit trying to get your attention. A lot of people believe that spirits, fairies, or even loved ones who have passed can appear to us in the form of little bugs like flies, butterflies, or dragonflies.
If a fly is just buzzing around you and won’t leave you alone, or even lands on you or just hovers right in front of your face, that’s a sign that a spirit guide or someone you knew is nearby. The fly is supposedly their way of letting you know they’re there, watching over you, or trying to give you a message. Pay attention to what you’re thinking and feeling when that fly shows up. Is there maybe someone specific coming to mind? There could be more meaning or symbolism there.
Also, some people say the type of fly or where exactly it lands on your body could have spiritual significance. For example, if a fly lands on your left hand or ear, that’s thought by some to indicate a woman or loved one, while the right side represents a man. Landing on your head is maybe a sign of higher spiritual guidance.
Sure, not every fly that follows you or lands is going to have some deep meaning – most of the time, a fly is just a fly. But if one really gets your attention in a weird way, consider opening your mind to the possibility of it being a message from beyond. Or at the very least, it’s a reminder that there’s still mysteries in life we don’t understand.
“Flies Can Forecast Weather”
Flies have long been associated with superstitions about the weather, especially when it comes to predicting rain. One such belief is that if flies are buzzing around more than usual, it means rain is on the way.
Flies are cold-blooded insects, so their behavior is strongly influenced by external temperature and humidity. When the weather becomes cooler and damper in advance of a rain event, flies will become more active as they seek warmth. They may also be drawn indoors more often when rain is approaching. So, an uptick in fly activity could indicate that conditions are changing in a way that often precedes precipitation.
