Dominican culture is full of sayings, traditions, and superstitions that have been passed down from one generation to the next. Some come from family traditions, some have roots in African and European beliefs, and others have been part of Caribbean culture for generations.
You may not believe in them, but if you grew up around Dominican family, chances are you’ve heard at least a few.
Mal de ojo
One of the most familiar Dominican superstitions is mal de ojo, or the evil eye.
The belief is that someone’s jealousy, admiration, or negative energy can unintentionally cause harm, especially to babies and young children. A baby who suddenly becomes fussy, cries constantly, or seems unwell may be said to have mal de ojo.
Because of this, some Dominican families are careful about strangers admiring a baby without touching them or saying a blessing. You may also hear someone say that they have to “despojar” or cleanse the person if they believe something negative has happened.
Don’t sweep over someone’s feet
You’ve probably heard this one in a Dominican home: don’t sweep over someone’s feet.
According to the superstition, if you sweep someone’s feet, they may never get married.
Whether you believe it or not, it is the kind of warning that can make someone immediately lift their feet when you start sweeping around them.
It is especially common as a playful warning among family members, but older generations may take the belief more seriously.
Don’t put your purse on the floor
Another common superstition is that putting your purse or wallet on the floor means you’ll lose money.
The idea is essentially that your money will “leave” you or that placing your belongings on the floor invites financial problems.
You might hear an older Dominican tell you to pick up your purse almost immediately if they see it sitting on the ground.
Don’t open an umbrella inside the house
Opening an umbrella indoors is considered bad luck in many cultures, including among some Dominican families.
The explanation varies, but the general idea is simple: an umbrella belongs outside, so opening one inside the home is inviting unnecessary bad luck.
Even if nobody in the family can explain exactly where the belief came from, someone will probably still tell you to close it.
A broom behind the door
Some Dominican families place a broom behind or near the door as a way of keeping away unwanted energy or people.
There are different versions of this belief. In some families, a broom behind the door is associated with keeping away someone who has overstayed their welcome. In others, it is connected to protecting the home.
Like many Dominican superstitions, the details can vary from family to family.
Don’t cut a baby’s hair too early
Older generations may have strong opinions about when a baby’s hair should be cut.
Some families believe that cutting a baby’s hair too early can affect the child’s hair or development, while others simply follow the tradition of waiting until the baby is older.
Today, many parents treat this more as an old family belief than a strict rule, but you’ll still hear older relatives giving their opinion.
Don’t sit in the doorway
Sitting in a doorway is another thing that some Dominican families discourage.
There are different explanations for why it is considered bad luck. In some versions, sitting in the doorway can prevent opportunities or good things from coming into the home.
There is also a practical side to this one: doorways are places where people need to walk, so telling children to move is probably useful whether you believe the superstition or not.
Cover mirrors during certain situations
Mirrors have long been connected with spiritual beliefs in many cultures.
Some Dominican families may cover mirrors during wakes or after someone dies. This comes from older beliefs about spirits, reflection, and the connection between the physical and spiritual worlds.
Practices surrounding death can vary significantly between Dominican families, but these traditions show how spirituality and superstition can overlap.
Don’t cut your nails at night
Another old belief is that cutting your nails at night can bring bad luck or cause you to lose money.
This superstition is not unique to the Dominican Republic, but it has been passed down in many Dominican families.
Before electricity and modern lighting, there was also a practical reason people avoided cutting things at night. Poor lighting made it easier to injure yourself, which may have helped reinforce the tradition.
Don’t put a hat on the bed
Putting a hat on a bed is considered bad luck in some Dominican families.
Like several other superstitions, the exact explanation varies. Some people simply grew up hearing that hats belong on your head or somewhere else, but definitely not on the bed.
It is one of those little rules that can stick with you even when you don’t remember exactly why you were taught it.
Saying something after a compliment
When someone compliments a child, a person, or even something beautiful in the home, some Dominican families may respond with a phrase meant to protect against mal de ojo.
This is especially common when talking about babies. Someone might compliment a baby and then immediately add a protective phrase or gesture.
The idea is not necessarily that the person giving the compliment has bad intentions. The belief is that too much attention or admiration can attract negative energy.
Why these beliefs matter
Dominican superstitions are more than a collection of strange rules.
They are part of the way traditions get passed through families. A grandmother tells her granddaughter not to sweep over someone’s feet. A mother warns her child not to leave a purse on the floor. Someone remembers what their own grandmother used to do and continues the tradition without ever questioning where it started.
Some beliefs have roots in African, European, Indigenous, and Caribbean traditions, while others have practical explanations or have simply become part of family folklore.
And not every Dominican believes in every superstition.
That is part of what makes them interesting. You might have one relative who takes them very seriously and another who laughs about them while still following them “just in case.”
At the end of the day, Dominican superstitions are a window into the stories, beliefs, humor, and traditions that families have carried from one generation to the next.
You don’t have to believe that sweeping someone’s feet will keep them from getting married to know exactly what your abuela means when she tells you to move your feet.
