Salt, a white mineral with a crystalline structure, so familiar to us, that is consumed every day, is not so simple. Different peoples have many beliefs and magical rituals associated with it.
History tour
Salt was once a very expensive and rare product. It was imported to Russia from "overseas" countries, paid dearly for it, and therefore the mineral was considered a kind of delicacy, although there was still no such word. In folklore, among fairy tales, proverbs and sayings, there are many that emphasize the value of these white crystals. A sign of spilled salt and an obligatory quarrel? Does it not take its roots from there? Of course, if you put a bunch of money for a pinch, and then sprinkle it, you will swear here! And the tradition of meeting expensive guests is not something, but a bread and salt also speaks volumes!
The magic of salt was successfully used by ancient sorcerers, witches and priests of many countries to fight against evil spirits, scare away werewolves, vampires and ghouls. It was believed that if the consecrated crystals were scattered around the house, no evil spirits would come close to it. And to destroy a vampire by wounding him and sprinkling the wound with this salt, it could be as effective as shooting a silver bullet or sticking an aspen stake in his heart .
According to popular beliefs, the so-called quartet salt has special magical and even healing powers.
Great Thursday Power
It should be mentioned that Clean Thursday is a special day for all believers. This is the time when people remember the last Supper of Christ with the disciples, the traitorous kiss of Judas, the commandments that were addressed to us from above. And they always clean in their homes, bring absolute purity on the eve of Easter, always bathe, purifying the body, and confess, partake, purifying the soul. Hence the ritual name of Thursday. And it was on that day that the money was counted so that they would be kept in the family, washed with “silver” water to preserve beauty, youth and health, brought candles lit there and went around the whole house with them, as if sanctifying, casting out evil , all the negativity that could have accumulated here since last Easter, i.e. over the past year. In addition, Thursday salt was prepared.
"Special" salt
To this day, such salt is considered to be special, healing and protecting from all evil, both human and domestic animals. Different regions make it differently. The main thing is that this process falls on the night from Wednesday to Thursday on
Holy Week or on the morning of the “cleanest day”. Thursday's salt is revered literally from time immemorial, from the penetration of
Christianity in Russia. She was carefully cared for and used to treat many ailments.
In some regions, such salt is obtained by consecrating it during church service. It was once believed that it was enough for ordinary crystals to lie down a significant night in the red corner under the icons, and they receive a life-giving, magical power. But the most common rite, in which the quaternary salt is obtained, is burning it on fire, cleansing with a flame. The main attribute of the ritual was, of course, the Russian stove. The salt, as much as it was in the family, was soaked to a state of gruel, then wet crumb of black bread was added. Instead, it was possible to use the thicken left after filtering the kvass. The resulting mixture was tied in a bundle of clean rags, usually linen. She could be replaced with an old linden bast shoe. All this was placed in the oven on a heat or carefully covered with ash and left until the end of Saturday or even Easter Sunday. When the bundle was then pulled out, there was already black salt, calcined by a cleansing fire. The hostesses crushed it in mortars, reseeded, salted Easter eggs during a conversation, and then kept behind the icons. It was added to food for sick family members or to water in cattle that had taken control. It was believed that such salt would save at the evil eye, and sewn into the amulet and worn around the neck would protect against a bullet in war or a dashing person on the road. The shepherds must have put a pinch in a rag in their bosom, the first time going with the herd to the pasture. And if the husband and wife quarreled, the Thursday bag under the pillow was supposed to bring harmony to the family. In the same way, ritual salt, sprinkled little by little in every corner, could rid the family of misfortunes.