There’s a lot of new people so what the fuck let’s say hi and talk. Hi.
In my last piece - My parents, my child and me: what could go wrong? - I wrote about how my Russian parents would protect my baby from ‘the evil eye’ by making a ‘dula’ whenever anyone would praise him.
A few of you shared your own superstitions, like how in Mexican culture there is, once again, the evil eye - ojo de mal - if someone admires a baby, that baby will get sick and can even die!
So like what do u believe?
Superstitions fascinate me. Not like “what the heck why is everyone so dumb” but quite the opposite - it is amazing that these religious like codes materialized in different cultures to protect people, improve our lives, etc. Incredible.
This has me wondering - what superstitions do you believe? Or that your family believes in or tried to make you believe growing up? I’ve got a few that I believe to this day - gonna share in the comments below. What aboutchu?
Also, what superstitions do you think are new? Like which ones are the ones that we are creating now that will be considered wild and fun by people 200 years from now?
Both Are True is a reader-supported publication - free for all, supported by those who can and also want to. To receive new posts and support, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber
Ok so most of mine are Russian. The big one I believe and LOVE is that before any journey, everyone has to sit down and be quiet for a moment. Growing up we'd always do this. Whenever we'd go anywhere on a trip or like one of us would go fly somewhere, we would all sit on the stairs, quiet for a few seconds, and then we'd go. Lauren and I do this now, and it's definitely something I want to keep doing with my family.
I also still believe INTENSELY is that you can't step over someone. Like if I'm lying down and Lauren steps over me, that means I will stop growing. Luckily you can reverse it by stepping back over the person.
Another big one is that you can't hand anyone a knife or anything sharp directly. You have to put it down on the counter and then they can pick it up.
Also don't leave money on any counter - that's bad luck for some reason. Or like bragging?
Oh and my parents told me about this one: you don't buy any gifts for a baby until after they're born. Otherwise it might curse them.
To keep the devil away you spit three times over your left shoulder, cuz that's where the devil hangs out and he's a big germaphobe.
"I thought I wasn’t much for gut feelings, preferring logic and pragmatism. I brush off superstition, but I never taunt Mr. W(ind) – I make sure to acknowledge and appreciate the breeze. I say I don’t have any big rapid rituals, but I never turn down glitter or lipstick at the scout."
Slavic superstitions are truly contagious, because after spending time in Russia & Ukraine I cannot shake hands or hug someone in a doorway, lest our relationship be forever cursed. Also cannot go back to get something I forgot in the house without spinning counterclockwise three times before going back out again. Even though in my previous life I took none of these precautions, now I'm stuck with these beliefs. Also I have to wear slippers now but that's surely for the best, right? I do go outside sometimes with wet hair but will probably keel over from that one of these days.
OMG hahah i forgot about both of these but THEY ARE BOTH TRUE (yes!).
And yes the slippers thing. That feels even deeper than superstition it feels core. Fundemental to being a russian human being. I am actually thinking about doing some research and writing something longer about it lolol
In this case you have to interview Costa Ronin, "Oleg" of The Americans, who in one memorable scene in the last season, enters the Moscow apartment where he lives with his family IN FULL SHOE. He goes to his bedroom. SHOES ON. How could this Kalingrad-born actor even do this?? I know it's fiction, and his character is doomed and all, but NO. This breaks not only the fourth wall but all walls in all dimensions. Seriously: ТАКОГО БЫТЬ НЕ МОЖНО. I have to believe it hurt him, and he should get a retake in full tapachki. How hard can it be to heal this wound?
a woman i dated didn't like to celebrate birthdays before the actual day of the birthday, because of the idea that it was maybe tempting fate or death who would be like "oh you think you're going to be that age? we'll see about that!" and i like it. i like the idea of celebrating on the day or after, in part because of that!
i love that and also it feels perfectly on brand with the soviet outlook of DO NOT CELEBRATE EVER BECAUSE DOING SO MIGHT MAKE IT LOOK LIKE YOU'RE BRAGGING AND YOU WILL LOSE EVERYTHING YOU LOVE
My longest running superstition came from a Turkish friend of mine who I knew when I was 13. Instead of "knocking on wood," her family would say (forgive the phonetic spelling) "shay-tan kulana kurshin" which translated to "bullet through devil's head," and then you'd pull on your ear. It was basically making sure the devil didn't hear whatever you had just said thus ensuring it would not come true. Visceral af and i still use it to this day. And the raw egg and evil eye was something my best friend's mother taught him - they were from Mexico. If you ever notice the baby Jesus in old painting sporting a piece of coral around his neck, it is debated whether or not that was to keep away the evil eye or to soothe his teething gums. And lastly, my partner - who used to race mountain bikes downhill - swears you should never say "this is my last run," because you will surely be injured. Thank gosh I could finally comment hahahah !
Ok so most of mine are Russian. The big one I believe and LOVE is that before any journey, everyone has to sit down and be quiet for a moment. Growing up we'd always do this. Whenever we'd go anywhere on a trip or like one of us would go fly somewhere, we would all sit on the stairs, quiet for a few seconds, and then we'd go. Lauren and I do this now, and it's definitely something I want to keep doing with my family.
I also still believe INTENSELY is that you can't step over someone. Like if I'm lying down and Lauren steps over me, that means I will stop growing. Luckily you can reverse it by stepping back over the person.
Another big one is that you can't hand anyone a knife or anything sharp directly. You have to put it down on the counter and then they can pick it up.
Also don't leave money on any counter - that's bad luck for some reason. Or like bragging?
Oh and my parents told me about this one: you don't buy any gifts for a baby until after they're born. Otherwise it might curse them.
To keep the devil away you spit three times over your left shoulder, cuz that's where the devil hangs out and he's a big germaphobe.
"stop growing" like physically taller? or like emotionally spiritually as a person?
physically
well that sounds like it could be useful then!
okay not to shamelessly self promote but I actually wrote about some of my superstitions on river trips before if u want to read!!! https://www.oars.com/blog/overcoming-fears-about-whitewater/
"I thought I wasn’t much for gut feelings, preferring logic and pragmatism. I brush off superstition, but I never taunt Mr. W(ind) – I make sure to acknowledge and appreciate the breeze. I say I don’t have any big rapid rituals, but I never turn down glitter or lipstick at the scout."
hell yes cannot wait to read this
ok i read it it was great and really well written AND i want to become a river man
Slavic superstitions are truly contagious, because after spending time in Russia & Ukraine I cannot shake hands or hug someone in a doorway, lest our relationship be forever cursed. Also cannot go back to get something I forgot in the house without spinning counterclockwise three times before going back out again. Even though in my previous life I took none of these precautions, now I'm stuck with these beliefs. Also I have to wear slippers now but that's surely for the best, right? I do go outside sometimes with wet hair but will probably keel over from that one of these days.
OMG hahah i forgot about both of these but THEY ARE BOTH TRUE (yes!).
And yes the slippers thing. That feels even deeper than superstition it feels core. Fundemental to being a russian human being. I am actually thinking about doing some research and writing something longer about it lolol
In this case you have to interview Costa Ronin, "Oleg" of The Americans, who in one memorable scene in the last season, enters the Moscow apartment where he lives with his family IN FULL SHOE. He goes to his bedroom. SHOES ON. How could this Kalingrad-born actor even do this?? I know it's fiction, and his character is doomed and all, but NO. This breaks not only the fourth wall but all walls in all dimensions. Seriously: ТАКОГО БЫТЬ НЕ МОЖНО. I have to believe it hurt him, and he should get a retake in full tapachki. How hard can it be to heal this wound?
a woman i dated didn't like to celebrate birthdays before the actual day of the birthday, because of the idea that it was maybe tempting fate or death who would be like "oh you think you're going to be that age? we'll see about that!" and i like it. i like the idea of celebrating on the day or after, in part because of that!
PS bonus: that was my UKRAINIAN ex-girlfriend!
i love that and also it feels perfectly on brand with the soviet outlook of DO NOT CELEBRATE EVER BECAUSE DOING SO MIGHT MAKE IT LOOK LIKE YOU'RE BRAGGING AND YOU WILL LOSE EVERYTHING YOU LOVE
fascinating outlook! no wonder the US and Soviets have been at odds for so long
My longest running superstition came from a Turkish friend of mine who I knew when I was 13. Instead of "knocking on wood," her family would say (forgive the phonetic spelling) "shay-tan kulana kurshin" which translated to "bullet through devil's head," and then you'd pull on your ear. It was basically making sure the devil didn't hear whatever you had just said thus ensuring it would not come true. Visceral af and i still use it to this day. And the raw egg and evil eye was something my best friend's mother taught him - they were from Mexico. If you ever notice the baby Jesus in old painting sporting a piece of coral around his neck, it is debated whether or not that was to keep away the evil eye or to soothe his teething gums. And lastly, my partner - who used to race mountain bikes downhill - swears you should never say "this is my last run," because you will surely be injured. Thank gosh I could finally comment hahahah !