How in Russia they chose where to build a house, and What places were called "bad" and bypassed

In Russia, they took very seriously not only the choice of materials for the construction of the hut, but also the place for the construction of the house. There were so-called “bad places” that had to be avoided so as not to bring trouble to your family. Today it may seem ridiculous, but earlier signs were an important condition in construction. Read in the material what signs were used for safety, why it was impossible to put a hut by the road, how spiders helped with construction and what a bannik and a brownie advised.

What Bannik and Brownie advised and why roads should be avoided

When the peasants chose a site, they were guided primarily by practical aspects. A house by the river is fine, but it's worth considering flooding. The sun shines and heats the hut - what about a strong wind? But there were signs that are very difficult to explain from a practical point of view. For example, a road. Our ancestors believed that wealth and luck would not linger in the houses built on the roads. When building, it was not recommended to use trees that grew on forgotten roads. This material was classified as deadly. It was said that such a tree can suck all the strength out of people, attract serious ailments and even increase the risk of death.

It was impossible to put houses on the site of the former baths. This was explained by the fact that Bannik, who was driven away from his home, would get angry, enter the house and take revenge. That is, the residents of the new house are threatened with constant disputes, strife, in general, they will have to forget about a good life.

Huts were not built on the site of the old church. The explanation is simple: there was a rite that was supposed to butter up the Brownie. It was performed when the first row of logs was laid. It was necessary to put a bowl of milk overnight for this discerning and harmful spirit. And it was strictly forbidden to call him to the place where the church was previously located and other gods were glorified. Nobody wanted to lose the protection of the Brownie, who held his post behind the stove.

Burnt church as a signboard "Don't build here"

In the past, there were frequent fires. After all, all the buildings were wooden. The church did not avoid this fate either. Any fire was perceived as a severe punishment for committed sins. It was said that after people sinned, fire penetrated from heaven, because the gates of Hell opened. Therefore, it was impossible to build houses on the ashes, especially where the church burned down. This was the territory that the Lord marked with his anger. It is best to build a new church on this site. This was perceived as a way to bring repentance, atone for sins. Another point: there was a churchyard next to the temple, and during the construction, people could disturb the departed ancestors.

And what was there before and the principle of compulsory assessment of the place

Those places that were abandoned due to epidemics, floods and other troubles were classified as bad. Those places where tragedies occurred should be bypassed, and even more so not to build houses there. This applied to any disasters, as well as various troubles.The unkind territories were those where, for example, a bear lifted up livestock, some person was badly hurt, and even those where the cart just broke. Nobody ever put a hut here. The family's peace of mind and the confidence that everything was done correctly was more important to people.

We should also say about carpentry artels. In ancient times, the skill of carpenters was referred to as sacred, and the artels were subdivided into "unclean" and "saints." Those carpenters who were engaged in the felling of huts and outbuildings were "unclean". Moreover, the people endowed them with special witchcraft abilities. But those who were engaged in the construction of churches were considered saints.

If a so-called "evil tree" was found in a hut (this name was given to a natural growth on the logs, which the carpenters did not remove "on purpose"), then the house was called cursed. It was said that the workers used their witchcraft powers and carried out a conspiracy, which promised various troubles and misfortunes. For example, the residents of such a hut could not have children or even left for another world for unknown reasons.

How spiders helped to check the place where the hut is being built

It was not enough just to choose a place, it was necessary to properly check it in order to protect it from the influence of evil forces. There were various ways for this, from simple to very laborious. For example, you could install a cast iron in the right place and put a spider in it. In the event that the insect began to knit a web, it was possible to relax - everything is fine, the hut will be happy.

Sometimes bread was used. When the loaves were put into the oven, one of them was conditionally “assigned” to the future building. They waited for the bread to be ready, and if the necessary loaf was beautiful, tall, even, then they talked about the blessing of the Lord. If the bread rose sluggishly, and the finished loaf was covered with cracks or even fell apart, the place being checked was considered unsuccessful. It was not recommended to build a house on it - the residents were in danger.

Another interesting rite of passage for checking the "construction" site. The owner had to secretly bring four stones, and it was necessary to take them in different places, and spread them in the corners of the future hut. After that, the peasant got up in the center and said a prayer in which he asked the ancestors for blessings to build a new house. Everything, you could leave for three days. When the allotted time expired, the owner returned and checked the left stones. Everything, as it was, in its place? Perfectly. You can safely start construction. Often not stones were taken, but grain. It had to be poured in small slides in the corners of the house and spread out in thin strips along the entire perimeter.

It was not so simple with the Russian bath. It was used not only for its intended purpose, but, for example, for fortune telling, wires of the deceased and other things.