Burning herbs at crossroads was said to confuse spirits searching for lost travelers in the dark

A closer look

A crossroads already feels strange—four paths splitting into possibilities. Now imagine one at night, with herbs smoldering in the air, smoke curling like threads around the choices. Folklore insisted on this ritual for a curious reason: spirits roaming restlessly often followed living wanderers. But if the traveler burned herbs, the smoke and the cross-shaped path tangled the ghosts’ trail, leaving them puzzled in the haze. It’s like setting an otherworldly riddle—an ancient trick to protect life from lingering shadows.