The Myth of Yawning: Does it Really Let in Evil Spirits?

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 16:08:41 +0000

Yawning myth: can an open mouth invite evil spirits? Discover the truth from folklore to science. Subscribe for more myth-and-science stories.

For centuries, people feared that a wide yawn opened a door to unseen forces. In this deep dive, we trace the belief’s roots, from medieval rituals to global customs, then test it against modern research. Learn why yawning happens, how contagious yawning works, and why covering your mouth survived as smart etiquette. Stay for the twist: the “spirits” we feared have a modern rival—and the old ritual still helps. Comment with any yawning beliefs from your family or culture, and subscribe for more thoughtful stories that connect superstition and science. Explore the spooky origins of the yawning myth, which suggests that yawning creates an opening for supernatural beings. This idea is closely linked with ritual and fear, prompting us to question if it's simply a natural human behavior. Discover how the yawning facts challenge old beliefs.

Sources:
Britannica – Yawn: https://www.britannica.com/science/yawn
Scientific American – Why Do We Yawn?: https://www.scientificamerican.....com/article/why-do-
PubMed – Yawning research: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=yawning
BBC Future – The weird science of yawning: https://www.bbc.com/future/art....icle/20160215-the-we

#yawningmyth #folkloreexplained

Chapters / Timestamps

0:00 Intro to the yawning myth and fear
0:48 How yawning became a ritual moment
2:30 Ancient beliefs: portals, prayers, protections
3:15 Why contagious yawning fueled superstition
4:10 Modern science: oxygen theory vs brain cooling
5:05 Contagious yawning in humans and animals
6:10 Debunking spirits: what the data actually shows
7:00 The twist: old ritual, new health reason
8:20 What a yawn asks your body to do next
9:30 Reflection and the larger lesson
10:30 Closing thoughts and subscribe

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