From the earliest times, people have been observing various phenomena, looking for coincidences that were associated with certain actions and could lead to a change in mental mood, weather or fertility. They systematized what they saw, carefully studied and tracked. And those phenomena that were repeated from time to time, highlighted, remembered and transmitted from generation to generation. That is why most of the old beliefs and signs have survived to our days: even today we are not particularly happy to meet a black cat, we prefer not to lend money for a night looking and carefully handle the mirrors. But is there any difference between signs and beliefs? Which ones deserve attention, and which are a relic of the past? We’ll talk about this right now. And we’ll talk about how superstition was born.
Sign and belief: is there a difference?
In general, it is customary to call a sign a characteristic characteristic that allows us to predict what will happen soon. In turn, a belief is a belief transmitted from one generation to another. And it should be perceived implicitly.
Speaking of ancient Russian signs and beliefs, it is also worth noting that they can be divided into two categories: bringing luck or, conversely, foreshadowing sorrows and problems. We bring to your attention the most famous signs and their logical explanation.
Sprinkle salt - to a quarrel
What do you need to do today to make salt appear in your kitchen? Go to the nearest store, pay a fairly modest amount - and the job is done. But it was not always so. This seasoning in Russia was worth its weight in gold in the literal sense. She was a symbol of prosperity and prosperity, it was she who was put on the festive table.
There are many sources of the ancient signs that spilled salt inevitably leads to conflict. For example, some researchers are convinced that the whole thing is in the famous fresco of Leonardo da Vinci's “Last Supper”: here Judas is depicted as overturning a salt shaker. However, other etymologists say: seasoning appeared in various religious rites long before da Vinci began work on his masterpiece. So, contracts were sealed with salt - leaders in some eastern countries poured a pinch of salt from one tank in their mouth in sign of any kind of agreement.
Among the Slavic peoples, who considered salt a sign of material prosperity, it was considered simply unacceptable to visit and overturn a salt shaker - this indicated that the guest did not respect the owners of the house. Well, of course, such a sign could well appear due to savings - so that children and negligent servants cherish an expensive seasoning.
Break a mirror - for years of misfortune
This ancient sign is considered to be one of the worst. It is enough to break even a pocket mirror, so that failure and misfortune accompanied a person for quite some time. According to some reports - up to seven years!
But how did this superstition come about? According to one version, the mirror is able to take part of the energy of the person who is looking at him. It is worthwhile to understand that not always a person looking at his reflection is in a good mood. From time to time we all feel anger, resentment. It was believed that all these negative moods that had accumulated over many years were released when the mirror broke. And this led to the fact that in the life of a person who broke a mirror (or even all members of his family) trouble began.
The roots of such prejudice go back to the distant Middle Ages. The first glass mirrors began to be made in Venice, and they cost fabulously expensive. That is why, so that the servants do not accidentally ruin the master’s mirrors, this sign was invented.
You can not whistle - there will be no money
Probably, everyone knows the various variations of this ancient folk sign. Someone believes that you can not whistle at home. Someone even says that you can’t whistle anywhere and under no circumstances. However, few know that the responsibility for the appearance of this sign lies with the sailors. It turns out that during the calm, when the ship could not continue moving, the entire crew - from the Jung to the captain - began to whistle with all their might. So they called on the wind to rise and fill the sails. By the way, you could often see this technique in a variety of cartoons.
So why not whistle in the house? People decided that because of this, the wind would actually rise - even if it was invisible - and take out absolutely all financial savings from the house. However, the matter is not only in sailors, the researchers say. It turns out that pagans many centuries ago believed that representatives of the dark forces were talking with a whistle. Whistling, a man attracted evil to himself. Of course, no self-respecting evil spirit could not respond to the call - he not only appeared in the life of a whistler, but also caused him various troubles.
The black cat that crossed the road - to failure
Speaking of ancient signs and superstitions, one cannot but say this. In general, in Western culture this animal has long been considered a symbol of something negative. For some reason, people decided that these witches were transformed into black cats. The man to whom such a “werewolf” was crossing the road understood that a witch was nearby. Therefore, it is worth waiting for trouble.
People gave black ravens about the same gloomy characteristics. But is there any sense in this ancient sign? Historians are ready to give an answer: most likely, cats began to be considered "diabolical" creatures in the Middle Ages. Then, in the era of epidemics, rats were literally swarming in all cities. And where there are rats, there are cats. Therefore, such a "bad reputation" did not pass them by. In addition, black cats in the dark became invisible, which scared those who came across them. As you see, there is no mysticism at the origins of this ancient omen.
Sign about three cigarettes
You have probably heard of superstition, according to which in no case should three people be allowed to light from a lighter or match. It is quite difficult to call an ancient omen - it appeared during the years of the First World War. Then the soldiers, observing the enemy army, focused on the lights from cigarettes and matches. At first the soldier lit up - the enemy saw the first light. Then he gave a light to a friend - the second. After they were joined by a third - it was he who became the target of the enemy bullet.
Do not pass anything over the threshold
Another old sign relates to the transfer of any things over the threshold. For some reason, it is generally accepted that this will not lead to anything good. And today, almost no one will remember how exactly this belief came into our lives. But in fact, everything is extremely simple: in ancient times, under the threshold of the house, the ashes of relatives of people who passed away were buried. And, of course, to disturb the peace of the dead was considered a bad sign.
Swallows fly low - to rainy weather
Probably one of the most famous ancient folk signs about the weather can be called one that is associated with swallows. Our ancestors said that if these birds fly low above the ground, it is likely to be raining. Not so long ago, scientists found that this sign can be explained from a scientific point of view. It turns out that the whole thing is that the swallows feed on midges, which, with any decrease in atmospheric pressure and high humidity, descends to the ground. Hungry birds rush after the insects. Nothing supernatural.