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NEVER JUGGLE BREAD IN RUSSIA - A look at common Russian Superstitions

By Mark M Thomson

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 19Sep2009 Word count: 819 Viewed: 236 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Do you have a sharp eye? Are you good at solving mysteries? How many mistakes can you find in the following paragraph: On his way to a date, Joe Clueless stopped at the bazaar to buy his Russian girlfriend Dasha a dozen yellow roses. He also bought a new hunting knife for her father, and after handing the clerk 200 rubles, he headed across the street to Dasha’s building. Joe knocked twice, and extended his hand for a shake as Dasha’s father opened the door. Inside the apartment, Joe whistled in admiration of Dasha’s beautiful dress. At the end of the date, Dasha mentioned an important exam she has to study for, and Joe assured her she’ll do great. With a kiss, he headed home.

Did you catch all of Joe’s cultural blunders as he time and again violated one Russian superstition after the next? There were eight in all:

1) A dozen roses? He might as well have bought her a card, “Condolences on the Loss of Your Loved One.” In Russia (and throughout the F.S.U.), an even number of flowers is given only at funerals.

2) …And they were yellow roses! It seems Joe doesn’t realize that by giving his girlfriend yellow flowers, he’s putting their relationship in jeopardy.

3) Joe also had a lapse of etiquette when he bought the knife as a gift. Buying someone a sharp object is a big taboo. He even had a chance to redeem himself by requesting a ruble or two as “payment”, but he blew that opportunity, too.

4) In the market, Joe handed money directly to the clerk. Didn’t he notice the tray on the counter? He should have put the money down so that the clerk could pick it up herself from the tray. Otherwise, he’s inviting bad luck for everyone.

5) At her apartment, Joe knocked twice. Russians prefer three knocks.

6) Joe was so thoughtless, he actually extended his hand across the threshold to shake hands! Imagine! In doing so, he created a “bridge” that the demons outside the house could then cross to enter Dasha’s home.

7) As if inviting demons into their house wasn’t bad enough, Joe then whistled while still inside. So now, the family would never have any money. (Whistling scares away the angels who bring money into your home.)

8) Finally, when Dasha mentioned her exam, Joe should have said in Russian, “Nee pukha, nee pera!” which means, “No tar, no feathers!” Dasha would then reply with, “K chortu” or “To the devil!” and then she’d be sure to do well on her test.

The above constitutes only a small portion of common Slavic superstitions, and if you spend any time in Russia or the F.S.U. (the Former Soviet Union), you are bound to encounter many of these. The pervasiveness of these beliefs is a clear indication of the Slavic people’s pagan roots. After all, before Duke Vladimir introduced Christianity to Russia in 988, the Slavs, like all Europeans, held and adhered to pagan beliefs. Angels and demons were believed to inhabit the earth and air and water, and a person’s actions affected how these beings interacted with him. So deeply ingrained are these beliefs, it is better simply to be aware of them, and do your best to avoid provocation than to try to argue with a Russian person about the silliness or irrationality behind them. With that in mind, let’s look at a few more of the most common Russian superstitions: If a Russian person forgets something at home, they will NOT want to return home to get it. Evidently, the guardian angel who accompanies you will get lost, which then is an invite for evil spirits to do you harm. If the person must retrieve the forgotten item, they will glance in a mirror, where the evil spirits often reside, to scare them away. Just before someone leaves home on a long trip, Russians will sit together for a moment of silence. Many reasons are given for this behavior, the most likely explanation being that the moment of inaction will cause the evil spirits to get bored and thus not follow you on your journey. If you accidentally step on a Russian person’s foot, be forewarned that they will likely reply by stepping lightly on yours. Evidently, this averts future conflicts with the person. Speaking of feet, if you’re sitting in public, don’t prop your foot in such a way that the sole of your shoe is visible. Showing the bottom of your shoe is considered rude, and while probably not a superstition in the strict sense, it nonetheless elicits an unpredictable reaction. There are many more Russian superstitions, but these represent the basics that every traveler should be acquainted with. Respect these beliefs, and you yourself will win the respect of your Russian friends!

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