Prohibited gifts: What could not be given in Russia

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

It is always pleasant to receive gifts. Today people practically do not think about whether it is possible or not to give a thing. They proceed from their financial capabilities, tastes, try to find out from a person what he would like to receive as a gift, and sometimes I just make surprises. In Russia, there were a variety of superstitions that forbade the presentation of some objects as a presentation. Read why it was impossible to please a girl with a pearl necklace and why it was forbidden to give a wristwatch.

Clock: countdown of the released time and the symbol of parting

In Russia, it was not recommended to give a watch. True, this superstition applied only to wrist models, that is, it arose at a time when these accessories were widespread. Why such a present was inappropriate: it was believed that, running in a circle, the hands of the clock were counting the life time allotted to a person, hinting that it was fleeting and there was not so much of it. In addition, men were not recommended to give watches to women, and women, on the contrary, to men. If this happened, then you could expect a quick separation. It's good that wall clocks and alarm clocks weren't considered dangerous gifts.

Knives like a magnet for evil spirits and mirrors that steal youth

Sharp objects were also considered unwanted gifts. Presenting a knife or dagger, forks or scissors, pins or needles could bring trouble on the gifted person, quarrel between spouses, and cause discord in the family. It was believed that such offerings attract evil spirits.

It was impossible to give mirrors. In Russia, it has always been believed that through these mysterious flickering objects supernatural forces can be selected into the human world. Girls were not recommended to often admire themselves in the mirror, they said that in this case, you can grow old very quickly. And as for the case when this accessory broke or cracked, it was very bad, and then the owner should prepare for a seven-year series of problems.

Empty wallets leading to financial ruin and mermaid tears in the form of pearls

If you wanted to give some kind of dishes, for example, a saucepan or a cup, as well as a wallet, then inside it was necessary to hide a coin of any denomination. If this is not done, then the owners are in danger of financial setbacks, losses, which is undoubtedly very sad. But the containers with money inside were able to attract wealth.

As for jewelry, which before and now women love to receive as a gift, there were some difficulties with them too. In no case should pearls be presented. In Russia, it bore the poetic name "mermaid tears". According to ancient legends, mermaids are young girls who are drowned, and therefore, having received a pearl product or just a pearl as a gift, a woman will cry and suffer for many years.

Funeral symbols - towel and slippers

Common items such as towels, handkerchiefs, and slippers also fell into the category of unnecessary gifts. In Russia, they were associated with funerals. There was a custom that the people carrying the coffin were presented with a new towel, and all the other participants in the funeral received a handkerchief as a gift. This was done so that the deceased was remembered. Slippers are an attribute of the deceased. Of course, these are not elegant home shoes with pompons, but the phrase funeral slippers is still very common. It was believed that by giving such a present to a person, they hinted to him that death was near. By the way, as far as handkerchiefs are concerned, even today many people think that such a gift is associated with tears.

There were also gifts associated with death. For example, it was not recommended to present fresh flowers in Russia, since a cut plant has no roots and cannot drink the juices of the earth. Therefore, it sucks the power from the one to whom it was presented. The bouquets were carried to the cemetery and laid on the graves. But this superstition belonged to pagan times, and when, after the adoption of Christianity, the tradition of giving bouquets and decorating rooms with flowers came from Byzantium, in Russia they began to be more loyal to such gifts. The only remaining limitation is not to give an even number of flowers, since this is only suitable for a cemetery and means that a person does not have much time left.

A dowry for a newborn that calls for death

There was another sign that many people believe in today: not to buy a dowry for the baby until he was born, not to present to the parents gifts related to the newborn - no blankets, baby dishes, sliders, toys. Most likely in Russia such a superstition developed due to the fact that infant mortality was very high. Children were often born dead or died in the first days of their lives, and then the dowry was simply thrown away or given to someone. They also said that if you make a gift for the baby in advance, then evil spirits can settle in it and subsequently it will bother the baby.

Crosses and icons that could only be taken from loved ones

There were gifts that could be accepted without fear only from a person who really loves you, from a loved one - an icon and a cross. If they are presented with some bad thoughts, then failures and troubles will surely attract. Previously, the right to give such things was given only to close relatives, parents, godfather and mother. There were also some loopholes that made it possible to protect a person when donating a prohibited item to him: you had to ask to pay at least a penny, and then they said that the omen would not work. But not everyone dared to do this, because superstitions in Russia for a long time were a kind of law of behavior.

There were also rituals, how the guests were welcomed in Russia, how they treated them and how they saw them off. In the modern world of social phobia, this is difficult to imagine, but it was previously accepted.