9 STRANGE Russian superstitions
Sitting down "for the road", not talking across the threshold and stepping on someone's foot in return – many Russians still remember what their ancestors feared. Where did these superstitions come from and what should you do if you break these rules?
1. Always sit down "for the road"
If a person is about to go on a journey, it’s customary to sit down for a moment and silently reflect on the journey ahead.
This superstition has its roots in ancient times. It was believed that evil spirits could bring misfortune upon travelers and, by doing this, people would trick them, pretending they weren’t going anywhere. Furthermore, while sitting, they would mentally list the things they were taking with them – so that the ‘domovoy’, the guardian spirit of the household, wouldn't worry.
What to do if you break this rule: Place a coin under the seat of the vehicle you're traveling in/on.
2. Never throw away your hair, throw it into water
Women with long braids have probably heard from their grandmothers that hair left on a comb must not be thrown in the trash. It's better to burn it or send it down a river (or, in a modern interpretation – flush it down the toilet).
Our ancestors believed that hair was a source of life force and a connection to a person. If it fell into the hands of an ill-intentioned person, they could cast an evil spell. But, even if a bird simply carried the hair to its nest, it would give the person a headache. Water, meanwhile, according to legend, washes away all negativity.
What to do if you break this rule: Wash your face.
3. Never wash the floor after guests leave
It’s not recommended to wash the floors until the guests have returned home. It was believed that this could permanently damage your relationship with them or even "sweep" them out of your life.
What to do if you break this rule: Call your guests and make sure they got home safely – this way, you symbolically "restore the connection".
4. Never sit at the corner of the table
It was believed that a girl who sat in such a spot would never marry. This superstition was a way to tactfully seat young people in a more "socially active" place at the table to increase their chances of meeting someone.
What to do if you break this rule: Say: "May my husband/wife have their own 'corner' (apartment)."
5. Never take out the trash after sunset
Taking out the trash in the dark, when good spirits are asleep and evil spirits are active, risks throwing out your financial well-being along with the waste. Of course, there's also a practical explanation for this superstition: before electric street lighting, going out in the dark was simply unsafe.
What to do if you break this rule: Say out loud that you are only throwing out what is unnecessary.
6. Never return to home immediately after leaving it
Returning is considered a bad omen, as the person interrupts their journey, disrupts the natural order of things and can attract negativity.
What to do if you break this rule: Upon returning, look in the mirror and smile or at least sit down "for the road" (see rule No. 1).
7. Never speak across the threshold
The most ancient boundary between worlds in Slavic beliefs is the threshold of a house, i.e. the entrance to your home or windows looking out. Spirits dwelled there and their boundary should never be disturbed. This meant nothing was handed over or spoken across these thresholds.
What to do if you break this rule: Step over the threshold so you are both in the same space.
8. Never pick up small change in the street
A coin or any item picked up in the street, especially if it's lying at a crossroads, can bring misfortune. They used to say that "small change is tears". In Old Russia, it was believed that coins were left intentionally to ward off negativity and transfer it to another person. A crossroads is also a symbolic boundary between worlds.
What to do if you break this rule: Pick it up while saying: "I take the coin, I take no misfortune.”
9. If someone steps on your foot, step on theirs in return
If someone accidentally steps on your foot, you should gently step on the same foot of the person who stepped on you. It was believed that an evil eye or negative energy could be transmitted through physical contact. Stepping back is a ritual of "return", so that the conflict or negativity doesn't transfer to you but remains with the one who initiated the accidental contact.
What to do if you break this rule: If you have time to respond, just mentally say: "Keep away!" or knock on wood to clear away the negativity.
