Threshold, Mirror, and Black Cats: 5 Superstitions That Are Hard to Shake Off 0 4

“Friday the 13th, the number of flowers in a bouquet, mysterious black cats, mystical mirrors, and thresholds covered in wood — this is the ominous five that instills fear in the residents of the European part of the former USSR,” says ethnographer Ivan Shurinov. Let’s explore how these superstitions originated.

• Some associate Friday the 13th with the crucifixion of Christ. A popular version is also the story of the Knights Templar. It was on Friday, October 13, 1307, that French King Philip IV ordered the arrest of members of this order. In modern times, a significant contribution to the formation of the image of the “day of misfortune” was made by the American horror film “Friday the 13th.”

• An even number of flowers is traditionally given only at funerals, and this is characteristic only of the countries of the former USSR. The superstition originated in Rus' during pagan times. It was believed that even numbers symbolize the completion of the life cycle, that is, death. Hence the proverb “Trouble does not come alone.” Odd numbers, on the contrary, embodied life and served as a talisman.

• The black cat became an object of superstitions due to its mysterious and capricious nature. It was particularly demonized in the Middle Ages, where it became associated with witches and even with the devil himself, who temporarily took the form of an animal. Due to prejudices against cats, they were killed, which contributed to the increase in the rodent population. If people had not disturbed cats, rats would not have spread the plague so quickly.

• The mirror is a true record holder for the number of superstitions. It reflects us. It should not be broken, and it should not be shown to small children either. If you had to return home, be sure to look in the mirror. This protective ritual is aimed at the house spirit, so that he, disturbed by your sudden return, does not cause harm. However, in reality, looking in the mirror simply helps to focus — if a person has returned, there is likely chaos in their head.

• And, of course, the threshold. However, its dreadful role has lost relevance, as the ashes of the deceased have long ceased to be kept under the threshold. Previously, passing anything through the threshold was considered a violation of the ancestors' peace. For this reason, sitting on the threshold of a house was forbidden, as it represented the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead.