"Russian Supertitions"

RUSSIAN SUPERSTITIONS

SIT BEFORE LEAVING THE HOUSE!

Before leaving for a long journey travelers, and all those who are seeing them off, must sit for a moment in silence before leaving the house. It is often conveniently written off as a time to sit and think of anything one may have forgotten.

DON'T CLEAN THE THE HOUSE!

After someone has left the house on a long journey, their room and/or their things should not be cleaned up until they have arrived, or at least a day has passed if they are guests in a house.

SPIT ON OR KNOCK ON WOOD!

Knocking on wood is practiced in Russia as in other countries. However Russians tend to add a symbolic three spits over one's left shoulder (or simply with the head turned to the left), and Russians will often knock three times as well. Traditionally one was spitting on the devil (who is always on the left).

DON'T BREAK A MIRROR!

Breaking a mirror is considered bad luck in Russia, as is looking at one's reflection in a broken mirror. The effect is also more severe than 7 years of bad luck (as in American culture).

DON'T STEP ON MY FOOT!

If one person accidentally steps on another person's foot, it is common for the person who was stepped on to lightly step on the foot of the person who stepped first. It is said that they thus avoid a future conflict.

DON'T CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY BEFORE IT!

Birthday parties should be celebrated on or after one's birthday, not before. So when one's birthday falls during the week, it's best to celebrate the following weekend. And never give someone birthday wishes before their birthday.

DON'T FORGET THINGS!

Returning home for forgotten things is a bad omen. It is better to leave it behind, but if returning is necessary, one should look in the mirror before leaving the house again. Otherwise the journey will be bad.

NEVER GIVE SHARP OBJECTS AS GIFTS!

Many Russians consider giving sharp objects, like knives or scissors, as gifts, to be taboo. You can avoid this taboo taking symbolic little money, for example one Russian ruble, in exchange as if it is a trade, not a gift.

DON'T STEP OVER PEOPLE!

It is often considered taboo to step over people, or parts of their body, who are on the ground. It is often said that it will prevent the person from growing (if they are not fully grown already). It is better to ask the person to move or to find a way around them. If one accidentally steps over a person (or people), it is sometimes standard to step backwards over them.

NEVER GIVE UNMARRIED PEOPLE A CORNER SEAT!

Unmarried people should not sit at the corner of the table. Otherwise they will not marry. This mostly applies to girls, and often only young girls. Sometimes it is said that you will not marry for 7 years, making it all right for young children to sit there.

DON'T GIVE AN EMPTY PURSE AS A GIFT!

A purse as a gift requires a little money inside. Given empty it causes bad financial luck.

THE THRESHOLD IS A PLACE OF EVIL!

You must not stand on the threshold of a house or apartment, and you must not talk across it or hand anything across it.

I WISH YOU GOOD LUCK!