What we have not frightened: the strange superstitions from around the world
A Life / / December 19, 2019
All people tend to believe in something. It is believed that if you follow certain rules, once in a given situation, it is possible to avoid all sorts of negative consequences. And yet - look into the future and even healed from certain diseases.
Yes, Rus-mother has always been famous folk medicine, divination and the fear of all sorts of evil. Not sure whether today's children know who the Baba Yaga and Water. What kind of plant, supposedly flourishing in the Ivan Kupala night in the woods, should give the finder of his magical abilities and unprecedented power. Why hang a horseshoe over the door.
Mystics in our culture was so much that at one time Vladimir Dal, our illustrious compatriot and compiler of "Explanatory Dictionary of Russian language", even wrote a whole book about all mysterious and unexplained. It was called "Personal beliefs, superstitions and prejudices of the Russian people».
Thank Dahl. Thanks to his efforts saw the light of a comprehensive encyclopedia about the supernatural. If desired, you can read it for yourself and find out what the world of mysticism to agitate the minds of our ancestors most.
So, if a mystical culture of predecessors, we know at least the rate surveillance through school textbooks (Many have tried almost all the fathers of Russian literature: Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Gogol, Chekhov), the mysteries, beliefs and prejudices other countries of the world for us dark forest.
Of course, everyone has heard: Friday any month that falls on the 13th number, promises to one and all nothing but trouble. Nevertheless, the explicit communication of this "holiday" with the personality of Jason Voorhees (Jason Voorhees) the majority of our fellow citizens, most likely will not see.
In contrast, for example, from the Americans. At the same time, residents of the state, and the Russians with the same wary of black cats and norovyaschie us to cross the road.
Let's find out what is common in the superstitions of the peoples of the world, and that for us, and very unusual.
Argentina
Let's start from the very strange in today's list. In Argentina, the face of universal evil is a specific individual - Carlos Menem (Carlos Menem), who served as president of the country in the 90s of the last century.
With Menem associated with a number of "dark" histories that occurred during his two presidential terms. Apparently, this is why the Argentines are so afraid pronounce the name of the former ruler aloud. If suddenly someone casually mentioned about Carlos - I think, gave himself anathema.
Therefore, in order to protect their family from the curse, anyone who is a "spell" sufferers hear or foolishly blurted out he will have imperceptible to touch her left breast, if it is a woman, a man, it should be discreetly used, sorry for the genital area. For any Argentine this manipulation plays a role familiar to us, "knock on wood."
Brazil
In a country of hot girls and football, in which everything from small to large is played around the clock, it is considered a big setback to drop to the floor purse - say, obedneesh, for sure. Obviously, the Brazilians did not know that in Russia for his wallet at all necessary, they say, be watched. But that's another story.
China
In China a lot of things such mysterious and interesting: hieroglyphics, Puer tea and Da Hong Pao, kung fu, finally. Interesting and superstition. The number 4 and all related combinations: 14, 24, 34 - are considered extremely unlucky because of their pronunciation in the language of Confucius is almost identical to the way a word sounds "death".
Funny fact is that the Chinese found out about the purely European and prejudice - the number 13. This phobia science has given the name "triskaidekaphobia». Now the Chinese are afraid and this. And the fear of the onset of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekafobiey. Such cases, guys.
Denmark
To mention a bit of good. Ware beats around the world - say it is to happiness. That's why in Denmark broken china cups and plates gently sweep a broom and then stored until the New Year to blow debris of homes of friends and relatives. After all, happiness is accepted to share! With this believe in the principle, and we agree: at Russian weddings of people do not feed bread - Give to beat glasses for the happiness of the young.
Egypt
Egypt, as we know, a country full of mysteries. Egyptians are credited with magical properties scissors. It is believed that, if you take them in your hands and do not cut off, to be trouble. Even worse, if you leave them lying around. However, on the other hand, the same scissors, put under the pillow, in the belief that can rid the sleeping person from torture him nightmares.
France
France gave the world a lot of good. The number of what the country is notable include Armagnac, French pastries, fashion and much, much more. However, the signs, in which the French believe, a special delicacy not differ. If you are pleased to walk the left leg in the dog feces, it's okay, you do what ever needs to be lucky. But if to the right, then the situation is bad, but for some reason - no one really explained so far has failed.
Greece
The Greeks own version curse. When two people in conversation at the same time utter the same word or phrase, it follows that should sound after that, the saving will spell «Piáse kókkino» ( «Πιάσε κόκκινο», literally "Reach red "). Then you need to find the object matching color and touch it - otherwise, a fight is inevitable.
By the way, if you find yourself in a similar situation during the Easter holiday, you lucky: during this time the whole of Greece is full of eggs painted in red in honor of the holiday.
Haiti
In this country most of the superstitions associated with the health of the mother. For example, if you ate watermelon or grapefruit peel, undertook sweeping the floor at night or accidentally have been at least a couple of steps in one shoe - I think that your dear mother condemned to certain death.
India
Special rules relating to the Hindus care appearance. This is extremely important! On Tuesdays and Saturdays (the same applies to the time of day and night) is strictly forbidden to cut their hair or nails and wash your hair. In fact, around these will always unfolded much controversy, but in general, most agree with: caring beauty nails under cover of darkness, you risk losing some small but valuable thing such as jewelery decoration.
As for the rumors associated with Thursday, the day is historically considered the output for all Indian barbers. Saturday the - day of Saturn (in Hindu mythology - Shani, in Sanskrit - शनि). Sources say: Shani - the elder brother of the Hindu god of death Yama. The brothers-gods sort of family contract, which Shani is responsible for promoting or punishing a person during his lifetime, while Yama does the same thing, but in the next world.
And yet Shani - a great teacher, carries the wisdom and reprehending betrayal and injustice. In short, all the Indians on Saturday should be collected and pious.
Japan
In Japan decided to teach children to cover the abdominal region during a thunderstorm. Japanese kids believe that if in bad weather to behave imprudently, the god of thunder Raydzhin in whatever was steal and eat the belly button. Horror, is not it?
Korea
In Korea, especially the South, people believe that fanWorking in a closed room where you sleep, can kill you. Superstition about the "breath of death" in the country is so widespread that most of these devices in the production is equipped with automatic shut-off timer. In our part of the same people still afraid to only air conditioners and for good reason, conventional wisdom - "so as not to chill."
Lithuania
As in Russia, in Lithuania is not accepted to whistle in the room. It is believed that it can attract all sorts of small demons, which you then plaguing not give. True, it did not specify exactly what troubles could turn a whistle in Lithuania. In our country, a sign promises carefree humorist financial trouble.
Malaysia
We will not go into details, just note: in this country of Southeast Asia, people in any case will not sit down on the pillow. Yes, it can threaten the fifth point with all sorts of plagues in the form of various diseases related thereto. In short, never so do not do.
Nigeria
What, in your opinion, the weapon is considered the most dangerous in Nigeria? Kalashnikov? And here and there! It turns out that this is a broom. If you hit it a man, then he will lose his "virility", and indeed it might end in the loss of genitals.
Nevertheless, some tend to believe that you can "disenchant": it must embed the same broom offender on the back, causing at least seven blows.
Oman
It turns out that in Oman there is a very effective, according to the local way to clean the car from the hostile presence of supernatural forces. To do this, you need to literally drive through the car audio version of the Koran music system speakers throughout the week, and the better of the two. In addition, it is able to save and from the other Arab countries in the common affliction - bad (evil) eye.
Philippines
Blind, or, as it is called, mushroom, rain is not so favor the Philippines. The people believed that during the rain pouring from the blue skies up there, walk wedding tikbalangi evil.
Tikbalang - a creature that resembles a cross between man and horse, as well as an analogue of the well-known Russian fairytale character - Goblin. Like his Russian colleague, Tikbalang roams the woods, forcing travelers to get lost and wander through the same places, not finding a way.
They say that it is rid of him, it is necessary to put on the shirt turned inside out. Or just ask for permission demon walk for a while in his possession.
Qatar
Generally, in this country, residents no longer believe in any superstitions. Moreover, to believe in something simply prohibited. However, they say that the earlier people here with great respect to the spiders: that they are capable of some magical way to protect the house from fire, so no spiders are not particularly touching.
Rwanda
Rwandan women are known from an early age: goat meat is impossible. Of course, you want to, as they say, eat, but then you, my beauty, grow a beard. Almost like a fairy tale about her brother Alyonushka Ivanushka yes.
Sweden
If you find yourself in this Scandinavian country, watch out for pedestrians. Some of them move around the city in a strange way: the zigzags, the bypass. The thing is that the manhole covers are marked with the letter in Sweden - one of "K", the other "A".
"K" is present in the words that are translated as "water" and "love." "A" - in those that mean "sewage" and "dislike". People tend to assume that the number of corresponding letters, those caught on the way, can affect the course of destiny and to prejudge it.
Nevertheless, the negative impact of meeting with the unwanted hatches can be neutralized if someone casually three pat you on the back.
Turkey
Turkey is considered a sign of bad manners to chew gum at night and in the evening. Turks believe that after dark bubblegum turns into the flesh of the dead. Downright nightmare, I swear ...
USA
Americans, it seems to me, regardless of where they live, are very fond of all sorts of horror stories. Prejudice is not spared and Vermont, where the windows of many houses built in the XIX century, had the shape of a rhombus. This was done in order to protect against witches: in Rotated sideways window witch riding a broom to fly, it was thought, could not. By the way, such window in some houses can still be seen today.
Vietnam
In Vietnam, the students who want to raise the level of performance, deliberately refuse from eating a number of products. Some of these objects have become taboo gastronomic most ordinary bananas: liberated from the peel of this fruit becomes slippery.
As you have probably guessed, the problem is also caused by the articulation features of the language - "Slide" and "fall" (that may well apply to exams) are pronounced in Vietnamese completely identically.
Wales
Welsh believed that if put on his head woven from leaves and twigs of hazel wreath, it can perform one cherished desire. We have to check yourself!
Yemen
It would be naive to believe that in a country with a very low standard of living medicine can reach dizzying heights. And to this day in Yemen, it is believed that a pregnant woman can determine the sex of their unborn child, thrown into the air dead snake.
If it falls on his back, then a girl, and if the belly-down - a boy.
Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe black magic (voodoo, too) really thriving. For example, a very common embodiment infidelity protection by resorting to which imposes on the husband wife spell. If extramarital hanky-panky still happen, the couple will be doomed to eternal wandering together.
Typically, the fear of such an inevitable penalty of wrongdoing and acts as a main factor of deterring cheating spouses.
To sum up, by itself, is worth mentioning, and many others familiar to us superstition and magical rites of divination, swimming in hole on Epiphany, Shrove Tuesday, the final celebration of a Russian folk gathered cheerful crowd, burning ritual stuffed. These are the pies. Pancakes, rather.
So what about black cats and four-leaf clover? We believe in all this or not? You decide. Yet, as for me, it will not be our life so interesting without secrets and surprises.
P.S. By the way, in 2015 as many as three Fridays falling on the 13th number. Two have already successfully (or not) gone, and third still on the way. Look for it in November.