Thread: Russian superstitions

my teacher cooked me lunch today, something I've never had before...she said it's superstition in Russia to make a wish when trying a new meal for the first time....


tell me some others you know of

Never heard about this. I know about superstition when you sit at a table between 2 same named person you can make a wish. There are a lot of superstitions though. The basics - spit 3 times over your left shoulder if you dont want something bad you're talking about happened, beware a black cat crossing your way, make a wish when you see a falling star, keep 5 kopeks/rubles coin in you pocket during exams and knock the wood for 3 times to prevent evel spells or "bad glance".

You must not de-skin a pregnant yellow frog or toad at the edge of a forest sitting on a pine or oak tree stump wearing an aqualung and flippers if it's a full moon and there's a group of at least three birch trees in sight and even if you have a half-eaten red herring wrapped in a last week's copy of Komsomolskaya Pravda with your own photo on the front page and a full Linux installation manual tattooed on your left buttock in shorthand by a ginger-haired pot-bellied gypsy sporting a froc coat even if he happens to be impartial to garlic and lollipops. It's a BIG no-no.

I think most common and strong superstition is:
-to sit down for few minutes before a long trip (for good road), and...
-do not whistle inside home (you will loose you money).

I don’t believing in such stuff, but really LOTS of peoples does...

Originally Posted by VendingMachine

You must not de-skin a pregnant yellow frog or toad at the edge of a forest sitting on a pine or oak tree stump wearing an aqualung and flippers if it's a full moon and there's a group of at least three birch trees in sight and even if you have a half-eaten red herring wrapped in a last week's copy of Komsomolskaya Pravda with your own photo on the front page and a full Linux installation manual tattooed on your left buttock in shorthand by a ginger-haired pot-bellied gypsy sporting a froc coat even if he happens to be impartial to garlic and lollipops.

That was great!
(I wonder if this is the longest sentence ever posted here )

-to sit down for few minutes before a long trip (for good road),

It is not a superstition, it's a tradition.

The following superstition is very popular among children and always annoyed me: If you accidently step on somebody's foot he should step on your foot too. If he doesn't then he will have some trouble (by one source) or you will quarrel (by another source).

In Sweden there are some supersticious people too, and popular beleifs include some of the ones JJ wrote about, but hey also believe that you shouldn

I know someone whose nana comes from Cornwall - she once told him that you should say "rrrrrabit" on the first day of the month and woe betide those who don't.

And before I forget, if there's anyone from the theatrical profession here, I just wanted to say the following to you: MACBETH

[quote=Kamion] and never leave your keys on the table. Don

One more: It a bad luck sign if you meet somebody carrying an empty bucket.

Originally Posted by VendingMachine

You must not de-skin a pregnant yellow frog or toad

Amphibians cannot be pregnant.

My girlfriend once made me turn the car around and find a completely new route to get home after a black cat darted across the road in front of us just 1 block from where we lived. I play along with the superstitions to accomodate her (but I also find them sort of charming.)

Now I can't go on any trip without sitting on the couch for a few minutes prior to leaving.

I don't really believe either but they're interesting nonetheless

Other superstitions:

Always give flowers in odd numbers, avoid giving them in even numbers.
Don't give as a present yellow flowers if you are not going to say good bye.
Never kiss under the threshold when you are greeting a guest.
Never leave empty bottles over the table after a party.
If somebody tells you your children are beautiful, you should make "chut, chut, chut" to avoid the evil eye.

Originally Posted by VendingMachine

You must not de-skin a pregnant yellow frog or toad at the edge of a forest sitting on a pine or oak tree stump wearing an aqualung and flippers if it's a full moon and there's a group of at least three birch trees in sight and even if you have a half-eaten red herring wrapped in a last week's copy of Komsomolskaya Pravda with your own photo on the front page and a full Linux installation manual tattooed on your left buttock in shorthand by a ginger-haired pot-bellied gypsy sporting a froc coat even if he happens to be impartial to garlic and lollipops. It's a BIG no-no.

Вы не должны де-кожа беременная желтая лягушка или жаба в краю леса, сидящего на сосне или пне дуба, носящем акваланг и плавники, если это - полная луна и есть группа по крайней мере трех берез в поле зрения и даже если Вы имеете полусъеденную красную сельдь, обернутую в копии прошлой недели Комсомолская Правды с вашей собственной фотографией на титульном листе и полном Линукс инсталяционном руководстве tattooed слева от Вас ягодица в стенографии рыжеволосым пузатым цыганом, носящим пальто froc, даже если он, случается, беспристрастный к чесноку и леденцам на палочке. Это большое нет-нет.

I work in the construction world; there are some very good reasons for not "walking under a ladder"!

Originally Posted by Friendy

Originally Posted by VendingMachine

You must not de-skin a pregnant yellow frog ...... to be impartial to garlic and lollipops.

That was great!
(I wonder if this is the longest sentence ever posted here )

No doubt.

One more superstition about sitting at the table: if you sit at the corner you'll never get married...
If someone tells you that you can answer "Чем острей, тем быстрей"