Water Throwing Superstitions

In the memoir ‘Angela's Ashes’, water is thrown in front of the funeral procession.

In the movie ‘Angela's Ashes’, water is thrown in front of the hearse by the Irish (By the people of Ireland).

The water used to wash the corpse (dead body) before placing it in coffin was traditionally kept to be thrown in front of the hooves of the horse drawing the funeral carriage. Later, this habit developed into the symbolic act of neighbours and family throwing buckets of water as a mark of respect to the dead.

Some people in Tamil Nadu, India also throw some normal water outside their houses just after the passing of funeral procession.

In some countries, water is thrown outside the house before a baby is brought in.

At the time of arrival of some important persons water is thrown outside the house to thank God for their safe arrival and to prepare way for departure.

If anyone leaves the house to undertake a journey someone in the house throws some water outside in the direction of the travelling person. The journey will be smooth like flow of water.

‘Angela's Ashes’ is a memoir by Frank McCourt.