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Superstitions
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Posted by: heybuddy

Anybody have any superstitions that they observed while in Russia? Or Russian people can share strange north american ones. Please share them all them here! Some that I noticed while in Novosibirsk. . .

1) Sometimes when a persons nose is itchy they want a drink
2) Must have a scarf and and must be worn in winter or will get very sick
3) Before a long trip everybody must sit and have a moment of silence before beginning jouney

KC

Posted by: Khashyar

Thanks for the interesting topic...

I'll have to ask Lena about this

Were there superstitions that I noticed while I was in Russia and Belarus???

One thing that I noticed about my wife Lena is that she doesn't like to speak about "bad" things (even in a joking way) for fear that they might happen...

I don't know is this next observation counts as a superstition, but.... I noticed that Lena does not like to feel happy about something before it happens for fear that it may not occur.. I read somewhere that this is a Russian trait and results from the fact that Russians have suffered a lot of hardships and disappointment, and perhaps this is the way for them to mentally deal with hardship and an environment where disapointment regularly takes place.

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Thanks for sharing your experiences about this, Tasha...

It's good to hear some more examples of Russian superstitions..

I wonder if Russians have more superstitions that Westerners do? I also wonder whether Russian history has contributed to the culture's superstitions?

I think that since Lena also experiences some of your same feelings, that those "superstitious" beliefs might be cultural...

Khashyar

Posted by: Ekaterina

All those superstitions are definitely a cultural thing. I have absolutely the same attitude about not getting excited about good things that might happen, and had to explain that a lot to my husband, and we have lots of arguings about that.

if I may add something to what was said before- when your nose is iching -you either want to have a dring, or to get a punch in your nose, so you'd better get a drink first, so that the other thing does not happen

It's sort of a joke

Another one- Russians do not shake hands or handle things through the open door. You should come in first, or get out to do that.

When you are going out somewhere, have already left home, but recognized that forgot something and have to return- it's a bad luck. If you absolutely need to go back home you should look at a mirror there

makes no sense to me, but I promise, I think about it EVERY TIME it happens

Posted by: Ekaterina

I can think of planty of others

If you're not bored yet with my previous message- here's another one.
When you have a meal that includes some alocohol drinks- usually a bottle(s) of something (

) you shouldn't put an empty bottle on the table, but place it under it when you finish

Posted by: merlin

Hi

Tasha mentioned a black cat crossing your path is bad luck, in the UK its good luck.
I came across a strange and interesting one with Katya last week, she was going to do a presentation on the day following our telephone conversation and wanted ‘Good Luck’ sent, but the way to send it was by me cursing her on the day, by using the worst expletives in my native tongue (to myself I hasten to add) she had already asked several of her Russian friends to curse her. I must admit though I did as she asked I found it a weird and uncomfortable thing to do, I would normally send love and light to someone here. Anyone know where this started from.

I think going back to Kashyars point the history of the country has a huge effect on the way we use superstitions. In fact Katya was recently translating a fairly heavy work on this subject by a Russian client of hers, which compared Russian and English Proverbs and superstitions. It was interesting seeing how our cultural differences altered the whole meaning of some sayings.

I do get the impression that the average Russian is far more superstitious than the average westerner, or at least they act them out more, but that’s just in my experience.

Terry

Posted by: Jutman

Actually is there a rather big website about this. I will try to find it and post it here.

Posted by: Khashyar

Ekaterina....

It's great to hear that you also share some of the same superstitions as my wife Lena does... (I think that it does help us understand the aspects of our character that are cultural)...

The joke about drinking was funny... I think that people use humor, in a constructive way, to help them deal with difficult life circumstances... I am sure that others are finding your list of Russian superstitions as interesting as I am finding them, so please list more if you can think of more...

Terry... it really is good luck in Englad for a black to cross your path?

That is interesting how the U.S. and England can have such an opposite belief of the same circumstance.

That's very interesting that cursing at someone (in Russian culture) bings good luck... I would love to hear some of our Russian member's interpretation of the origins of that belief...

Katya's book on Western and Russian superstitions must be very interesting... I would love to hear her thoughts on how superstitions in Russia compare to those in the West...

I have the same impression, Terry, that Russians are more superstitiousm than Westerners. (It seems like these examples exhibit this...)

(Yes, Brian... let us know if you can find that link about Russian superstitions....)

Khashyar

Posted by: Lena

Superstitions

After reading this message thread about superstitions, I’ve learned so much this topic-- even things that I wasn’t aware of, and I’m Russian

.

Yes, I received a lot advice from old people (who generally believe very much in superstitions); But to be honest, superstitions for me were the same as entertainment, jokes and fun. I have never believed in this. Yes it’s true there are a number of superstitions that influence the behavior of Russian people. Maybe it’s a cultural thing because a lot of other cultures do not believe in superstitions or take them seriously. For them it’s a joke. I will give you one example regarding this:

One of my friends had an interesting situation in her life. She had communication with a foreign man and was on a boat cruise with him. One day she was scared of something. Some Russian people when they are scared knock on wood three times and spit over their left shoulder. She did the same, and what kind of reaction did this man have? He was surprised and asked her what it meant because it seemed strange. I understand his reaction because if you do not know what it means then the behavior seems unusual.

When she came back from the cruise, the first thing that she told all girls was to never do the same because it’s very difficult to predict the reaction of foreign people.

This superstition originated from an ancient time when very old people treated small children for fright. They gave special water to children and read different prayers and also did the same as I described: to knock on the wood and spit. It’s funny, isn’t it ????

I think that some Russians are more superstitious than Westerners because this behavior and actions came from an ancient time and from our ancestors. Maybe it also depends on what kind of family you grow up in; because, for example in my family, no one believes strongly in superstitions, especially my parents. Sometimes I could hear from my grandmother when I left something and came back, such words: “Lena, what did you forget, it’s not good luck to come back.” That is the extent to what we talked about superstitions in our family. But as Khashyar mentions, I do not like to speak about “bad” things…Yes it’s true. I think it’s normal. I do not like to have stress or worry beforehand before something happens

It’s too early to speak about good things before they happen because sometimes we have such moments or circumstances in our life when good things do not happen and we do not have what we have planned. Life is life and I do not want to be disappointed.

I remember some other superstitions too, which Russian people follow:

1) Expectant mothers do not buy anything for their babies until they are born lest the evil eye harms the baby.

2) After a baby is born, some parents choose not to show the baby to anyone for the first two or three weeks so that no one can harm it by complimenting it. I’m not a mother yet, but I’ve heard this from my friends.

3) A broken mirror portends some kind of misfortune.

4) Russians do not sit at the corner of the table, especially unmarried women, because it’s a bad sign that you’ll not get married.

As I mentioned before I didn’t follow superstitions. I sat at the corner of the table but now I am married and have a very good husband and a good relationship.

5) If a bird flies into the room then there will be a death in one’s closest circles.

6) Aqua mentioned about a spoon and fork. I heard that if a knife falls, a male visitor can be expected. And if it is either a spoon or a fork, a female will visit. But I didn’t know that it means that a bad-spirited woman will visit. Maybe this superstition is a good idea because it’s easy to know who brings a bad-spirit in my house

7) Birthday wishes or wedding anniversary congratulations are not conveyed ahead of the actual day of celebration.

What else?...

8) One more: ...If two friends accidentally knock heads then they should immediately knock heads again, otherwise there will be an argument between them.

9) If a Russian person presents you with a plant or a domestic animal, then you should give that person a little money (some Rubles) to ensure that the plant or animal will grow quickly and will be healthy.

That is all that I know and remember about superstitions from people with whom I had communication and friendship.

Thank you to those who share all this with us, because it’s really interesting to read. I’m Russian and I found it interest to read these posts. I wonder if foreign people also have some superstitions besides the number 13 and black cats. Please share with us.

Lena

Posted by: rtking

When I was in Uzbekistan, I would often say "Spasibo" (Thank You) when I received a plate or was handed a bowl with food in it. (It's Western culture to say "thanks" and "please.") But I found out that at the Russian dinner table, you don't say "Spasibo" until AFTER you're done eating the meal!

The story I heard for this was the fox and the crow. The fox had a tasty meal and thanked God for the meal, but then at that moment, the crow flew down and took the meal away. So what did the Fox have to give thanks for?

I thought that was an interesting thing analogy!

In Chinese culture, there are many superstitions also! Pregnant women should not use sharp objects like scissors and knives. This superstition is used to explain things such as cleft palates, etc.

Bob K.

Posted by: heybuddy

Wow some of the superstitions that my family had, are the same as Russian ones. It is neat to see. I now wonder where they originated from?
Some "Canadian" ones or ones I can remember:
1) Droping a fork on ground meant company coming over
2) Break a mirror 7 years bad luck
3) Cat crossing path bad luck
4) Throw salt over shoulder good luck
5) Finding four leaf clover good luck
6) Keep cats away from baby cribas they steal the breath of the child
7) Don't step on a crack on a sidewalk
8) Ears feel burning when someone is talking about you
9) If you recieve a gift of a knife a, you should give a coin to presenter, or your friendship will soon be broken
10) Mirrors should be turned towards a wall during storm to not attract lighting
11) You can wish on falling or first star of night

I had to rack my brains to think of some!
KC

Posted by: Khashyar

This topic is interesting...

I wonder whether some of the shared superstitions resulted from similar originals of or trade between early European cultures and early Asian-European interactions and trade...

I am sure that some social scientist can trace (or has already traced) the earliest cultures that believed in certain superstitions.

I can imagine that different peoples and early cultures who traded with one another would share their superstitions with one another, and that some of them were passed from one culture to another that way.

Khashyar

Posted by: Harry

Perhaps the superstition of most relevance to this site is the one regarding the sending of flowers to Russians. If I hadn't read a note on a web site relating to Russians and romance before sending my first bunch to my GF then I would have deeply offended her as I'd have sent the traditional "dozen red roses." And of course Russians consider this extremely bad luck as even numbers (2,4,6 etc) are only sent to funerals.

I always understood that the itchy nose superstition meant that you were an alcoholic but my GF is from Rostov so maybe that's their interpretation of it.
I think that superstitions vary greatly over a nation and it wouldn't surprise me at all if superstitions varied greatly from region to region. It's incredible how enormous Russia really is. On that subject I always believed it to be bad luck if a black cat crossed your path in England and I'm an Englishman!

Other social oddities which my GF was surprised by me doing were Whistling (a habit of mine which I do when I'm happy - I was VERY happy in St Petersburg). It embarrassed her as she told me that no Russian ever whistles. Pointing at anything (which I did regularly as a tourist) was also a no-no as again, it's considered "not-done". They're not really considered bad-luck. But they do cause bemusement.

I think the question of optimistic/pessimistic outlooks on life really reflects as much on Westerners as it does on Eastern countries. My GF frequently laughs at my "dreamy" (as she refers to it) view of the future. For her, it's so unusual to speak to someone who believes things will turn out OK in the end. Even now, she hates to think optimistically about her future, preferring to think the worst. It's a good way to deal with disappointment.

I think the observation that Russians observe more superstitions than Westerners is true; we have just as many superstitions in the West but less people adhere to them nowadays.

-Harry

Posted by: heybells2004

I am a Ukrainian girl (but have lived in USA since I was three yrs old, so Im pretty Americanized). I was just web surfing and came to this forum, and actually wanted to share some superstitions Russians/Ukrainians have.

1) You can't whistle in the house or your money will disappear.
2) Bad luck to open an umbrella in the house.
3) Before a trip, everyone must sit for a moment.
4) Can't celebrate anything ahead of time.
5) If you step over a child's legs, they won't grow. Don't step over anyone's legs!
6) You pull the birthday person's ears the number of years they are, plus one. For example, 21 years old means pull their ears 22 times.
7) If you accidentaly step on someone's foot, they must then step on yours, or else you will fight.
8) You are not supposed to say something good will happen in the future (a baby being born, getting married, getting a job, etc) but if you accidently do allude to the good thing, you must say "Tfu, tfu, tfu" like you are spitting. You dont actually spit, you just say this.
9) Also if hoping something good will happen, but accidently talking about it as if it will happen, you should knock on wood, or knock on your head.
12) You shouldnt talk about something bad, like someone getting sick or someone dying. But if you do, you bite your tongue!
13) You shouldn't sleep with your feet facing the door. It means you will die.
14) No giving of either even numbers of flowers, or yellow flowers. (funerals)

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by heybells2004

I am a Ukrainian girl (but have lived in USA since I was three yrs old, so Im pretty Americanized). I was just web surfing and came to this forum, and actually wanted to share some superstitions Russians/Ukrainians have.

1) You can't whistle in the house or your money will disappear.
2) Bad luck to open an umbrella in the house.
3) Before a trip, everyone must sit for a moment.
4) Can't celebrate anything ahead of time.
5) If you step over a child's legs, they won't grow. Don't step over anyone's legs!
6) You pull the birthday person's ears the number of years they are, plus one. For example, 21 years old means pull their ears 22 times.
7) If you accidentaly step on someone's foot, they must then step on yours, or else you will fight.
8) You are not supposed to say something good will happen in the future (a baby being born, getting married, getting a job, etc) but if you accidently do allude to the good thing, you must say "Tfu, tfu, tfu" like you are spitting. You dont actually spit, you just say this.
9) Also if hoping something good will happen, but accidently talking about it as if it will happen, you should knock on wood, or knock on your head.
12) You shouldnt talk about something bad, like someone getting sick or someone dying. But if you do, you bite your tongue!
13) You shouldn't sleep with your feet facing the door. It means you will die.
14) No giving of either even numbers of flowers, or yellow flowers. (funerals)

Welcome Heybells to RMP.......here is another much longer thread on Ukrainian Superstitions you may be interested in.

Chris

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Quote:

Originally Posted by heybells2004

If you accidentaly step on someone's foot, they must then step on yours, or else you will fight.

Welcome Heybells!!! I would think this would start a fight, not stop one!!!

Posted by: mistermopar

Oh...never shake hands over the thresh hold,it is bad luck..

Randy

Posted by: markgm

And guys dont forget the whistling indoors Nat got into me a few times last week saying that if i did it again she would throw me out in the street untill i promised not to do it again.

Posted by: nocomfortzone

tell her to not try and change you.

If she has an issue with a superstition she should work on it, not you :-)

then later on ...when you are out on the street... shout out to her you think you are all whistled out for life and you don't feel the urge to anymore... your other urges are a stronger priority... ha ha ha

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Quote:

Originally Posted by markgm

And guys dont forget the whistling indoors Nat got into me a few times last week saying that if i did it again she would throw me out in the street untill i promised not to do it again.

Don't want to call her bluff Mark???

Posted by: markgm

He!!He!! Guys i'm not calling her bluff that Russian woman glare sends shivers down my spine.

He!!He!! and anyway it was to cold out in the street

Posted by: antoshka

Quote:

Originally Posted by markgm

He!!He!! Guys i'm not calling her bluff that Russian woman glare sends shivers down my spine.

He!!He!! and anyway it was to cold out in the street

somthin about that "death look" when they're pissed at you about somthin aye?
your right mark, it sure does send shivers down your spine!!!
whats the saying: "if looks could kill!" LOL

Posted by: markgm

Quote:

Originally Posted by antoshka

somthin about that "death look" when they're pissed at you about somthin aye?
your right mark, it sure does send shivers down your spine!!!
whats the saying: "if looks could kill!" LOL

HE!!HE!! Tooright mate it is a death stare the other is everytime i forgot something and went back inside to grab it was Markoo Markoo look in the mirror look in the mirror i would say you look in the mirror and i will look in a puddle on the street somewhere that was usually followed by being grabbed by the arm taken back inside and stood in front of the mirror where i would start pulling faces to stir Nat He!!He!! Then she would say that if i did that too many times i would end up looking like that ahhhh you gotta love them mate.

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Quote:

Originally Posted by markgm

Why did she want you to look in the mirror? Is it a superstition to look in the mirror when you go into your house or something bad will happen?

Lana said she wanted me to install a mirror by the door. I thought it was to check her self out before she left the house.

So what's the story with the mirror?

Posted by: markgm

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoingToRussia

When you leave the house and you have forgotten something and go back inside one of the superstitions is you must look in the mirror before leaving otherwise it is bad luck.

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Quote:

Originally Posted by markgm

When you leave the house and you have forgotten something and go back inside one of the superstitions is you must look in the mirror before leaving otherwise it is bad luck.

OH YES ... this makes perfect sense????

Posted by: mistermopar

Hummm,I better put up two or three mirrors in side the door of my place...LOL

Randy

Posted by: nocomfortzone

What the heck is that superstition all about?

Is there a certain age group of woman from these countries that are inclined to take these superstition seriously?
I can't remember Natasha mentioning many, maybe she is a bit younger and her age group find these superstitions funny and don't take them seriously.

Posted by: ira156

Quote:

Originally Posted by markgm

When you leave the house and you have forgotten something and go back inside one of the superstitions is you must look in the mirror before leaving otherwise it is bad luck.

Maybe She thinks if ya have to keep looking at your ugly mug as punishment you wont forget next time...he he he

Posted by: markgm

Quote:

Originally Posted by nocomfortzone

What the heck is that superstition all about?

Is there a certain age group of woman from these countries that are inclined to take these superstition seriously?
I can't remember Natasha mentioning many, maybe she is a bit younger and her age group find these superstitions funny and don't take them seriously.

Ahhh but they all have many mate He!!He!! You will find out.

Have a look here http://www.russianmeetingplace.com/...?t=10214&page=1

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermopar

Hummm,I better put up two or three mirrors in side the door of my place...LOL

Randy

Why all the mirrors Randy? Are you smuggling RW into Canada?

Posted by: nocomfortzone

Quote:

Originally Posted by markgm

Ahhh but they all have many mate He!!He!! You will find out.

Have a look here http://www.russianmeetingplace.com/...?t=10214&page=1

I just started browsing through first few pages. I knew about the odd number of flowers one and a few others. The mirrors one has me baffled. Actually the sneezing one is unversal i would have thought. Anyone sneezes here amd most people automatically say "Bless You" whether religious or not. Actually there is

"Gozantight!" What language is that? I must have picked that one up as a kid and don't know it's origin

Posted by: Spakoyna

Quote:

Originally Posted by nocomfortzone

Anyone sneezes here amd most people automatically say "Bless You" whether religious or not. Actually there is

"Gozantight!" What language is that? I must have picked that one up as a kid and don't know it's origin

That is German.

Wait until ya experience Fenshu?
My wife got on that kick. Never know when the house will be upheaved and rearranged!

Posted by: markgm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ira156

Maybe She thinks if ya have to keep looking at your ugly mug as punishment you wont forget next time...he he he

He!!He!! You could be right

Posted by: nocomfortzone

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spakoyna

That is German.

hmmm, yes, now you mention it is does sound German. I don't know where i heard it and picked it up , no German background in my family. Maybe as a little kid watching Hogan's Heroes the Germans said it...

Quote:

Wait until ya experience Fenshu?
My wife got on that kick. Never know when the house will be upheaved and rearranged!

he he... I think you got the spelling wrong.
Here is what i think you mean, i found Natasha mentioning something about it when her last winter was finished. I don't know if it is what the original Chinese had in mind but the Russian-Ukraine culture put their own spin on things. I know they *love* to clean

"Some of my friends tell me some things about Feng Shui, something from Chinese philosophy, I am not much into it, but some ideas are good enough to use, and I don’t care how it is called if it helps. It is time to clean everything, the winter is gone and I need to get rid of things connected with it, I am not going to throw things away, just wash them and put into their places. I am going to clean every corner and make it shine, don’t get me wrong, I do clean all the time but it is a custom to have a “general cleaning” or spring cleaning as we call it, it includes everything that can be cleaned. We usually do it when it looks more like spring,"

Posted by: mistermopar

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoingToRussia

Why all the mirrors Randy? Are you smuggling RW into Canada?

LOL,I only wish...I would be a very happy man right now.

I am always forgetting something and have to run back in the house,to much on my mind,and to many things to do.

Randy

Posted by: mistermopar

Quote:

Originally Posted by nocomfortzone

"Gozantight!" What language is that? I must have picked that one up as a kid and don't know it's origin

We also use Gozantight (or how ever it is spelled) here.I also remember using it as a kid..long long ago,and still use it sometimes.

Randy

Posted by: nocomfortzone

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermopar

We also use Gozantight (or how ever it is spelled) here.I also remember using it as a kid..long long ago,and still use it sometimes.

Randy

Yeah, i dunno how it's spelled but it's certainly a reflex reaction in my mind when someone sneezes so i'm curious where it come from especially now that it seems it is a german saying and i have no german connection in family and it seems like it is something a lot of westerners must know about seeing as you remember it aswell from childhood and you are way over the other side of the globe.

By the way, you can keep that Timmins weather you mentioned. I don't think i'm in any great hurry to expierence minus 35 degrees. I'd hibernate for the whole of winter if I lived there. One day i will get to Canada and Russia but maybe in summer.

Posted by: mistermopar

Quote:

Originally Posted by nocomfortzone

Oh come on...its not that bad once your used to it....LOL
I use to go out on my snow machine in that weather,had lots of fun jumping snow drifts.But I got rid of it and now I hibernate for the winter.I much more enjoy drag racing in the summer now.

Randy

Posted by: Spakoyna

Quote:

Originally Posted by nocomfortzone

he he... I think you got the spelling wrong.
Here is what i think you mean, i found Natasha mentioning something about it when her last winter was finished. I don't know if it is what the original Chinese had in mind but the Russian-Ukraine culture put their own spin on things. I know they *love* to clean

"Some of my friends tell me some things about Feng Shui, something from Chinese philosophy, I am not much into it, but some ideas are good enough to use, and I don?t care how it is called if it helps. It is time to clean everything, the winter is gone and I need to get rid of things connected with it, I am not going to throw things away, just wash them and put into their places. I am going to clean every corner and make it shine, don?t get me wrong, I do clean all the time but it is a custom to have a ?general cleaning? or spring cleaning as we call it, it includes everything that can be cleaned. We usually do it when it looks more like spring,"

LOL I knew I couldn't spell it!

It is much deeper than you think. Things have to face a certain direction, mirrors can't face directly at the bed or be at the end of a stairway, money under the doormat,certain figurines(mostly animals) must be purchased, and accurately placed for health,fortune,happiness, etc. etc. I could go on and on. There is a huge websight in Russian my wife can spend hours and hours reading. When she starts reading that I am thinking Uh OH! What's next?

Posted by: zumanity

Gezundheight -pretty much pronounces the way it spells.

You think 5S program ( Sort ,Set In Order ,Shine, Standardize, Sustain) might be considered superstitious as well as Fengshui..
AT some places it's a part of their company philosophy

and no way to ague with it unless you wanna lose your job

Posted by: Cheburashka

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermopar

We also use Gozantight (or how ever it is spelled) here.I also remember using it as a kid..long long ago,and still use it sometimes.

Randy

Gusundheit. It means good health if I remember my High School German correctly.

Posted by: nocomfortzone

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spakoyna

LOL I knew I couldn't spell it!

Actually it has got me a little intrigued on something i saw about in on a DVD this year, independently of what Natasha told me. I think i've got a greater handle on what it is all about than just the superficial idea of spacing, directions etc. There is certainly something to it so i'll look a bit more into it one day. I'm not sure whether people in Ukraine and Russia understand the principles that underly it. I get the feeling there is the phase where they have borrowed a lot of ideas from other countries since the Soviet Union finished and like to adopt different interests from China, America and other cultures foreign to them without fully understanding them in depth. I know they get into Halloween in Ukraine. Natasha told me about it and assumed we are into in Australia but i told her it was more an American tradition so we don't tend to make much of a deal of it here. Reading up on it on the internet, i actually learnt it is not an American thing at all but it's orgins are more Celtic.
Learn something new everyday

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermopar

When I was a young man, I didn't mind the cold weather ... in fact I rather enjoyed it. As I get older, I notice the cold more. I don't go outside to "enjoy the winter weather" anymore. Only to shovel the sidewalk and porch. I remember the one and only time I went ice fishing ... not fun. It took a week to warm my a$$!!!

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spakoyna

LOL I knew I couldn't spell it!

That Chinese thing that everyone spells different is more of a ying and yang thing. Your house, garden, or whatever must be in balance with nature. For true balance, your design must included air, fire, water, and earth.

Posted by: nocomfortzone

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheburashka

Gusundheit. It means good health if I remember my High School German correctly.

Thanks for helping out. I'll remember that for now on

Posted by: derex

Hi ekatrina. It sounds interesting. can u share more superstitions like that.

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Here are 2 superstitions I learned recently from my wife.

Don't plan ahead of your plans will change or not happen. How many times do your plans change after you make them, 50% of the time? I guess it has some merit but it's normal.

I was making a sandwich a couple of weeks ago and licked the knife before I washed it. She said not tho lick the knife because it will give me an angry personality.

It would be nice to know where some of these superstitions started. I was told it has something to do with practicing religion because you couldn't or maybe shouldn't do it during soviet union times. I still don't understand the connection.