• Putting on new thing for the first time, make a wish - it will come true. And if this clothing has a pocket, during the first wear, put a coin there - it will attract money to you.
• On major holidays (birthday, New Year, Christmas and others) wear new clothes. She will bring you prosperity.
• When purchasing clothes or shoes, make sure there is money left in your wallet. A wardrobe updated to the “latest” will become the “culprit” of lack of money.
• Wearing clothes inside out or backwards is a bad omen and predicts trouble on this day. To eliminate it Negative influence, you should wear something else. However, this sign does not apply to underwear - here it’s the other way around: if you accidentally put it on inside out, luck will be on your side all day.
• Start putting on clothes from the right sleeve - otherwise you will create additional difficulties for yourself.
• Do not wear the same clothes for several days in a row, especially if these days have not been easy. The fact is that clothes absorb the energy of the surrounding world, and they also need “breathes” in order to clear themselves of accumulated information.
• Treat with love - neatly and carefully - clothes that “work” for your image (for example, a uniform or business suit that you wear to work). How you treat her determines how others will treat you.
• An untied lace on your right shoe means that someone is saying kind words about you; on the left - someone is gossiping about you.
• Do not place your slippers crosswise: your peace of mind will be disturbed and your sleep will be ruined.
• If you wear someone else's hat, you will miss that person.
• Rinse clothes by turning them inside out, otherwise you will cause health problems for its owner.
• If you accidentally mix up shoes outside the home (in a fitness club, club, guests), or put on someone else’s shoes, this is a sign of unexpected joy and making new acquaintances. When you exchange, do not forget to give the person some kind of present, even if it is an ordinary candy - and luck will be on your side.
• Breaking a heel according to signs foreshadows the loss of money. Keep an eye on your shoes and take them to the workshop in a timely manner.
• You can't put shoes on the table. This predicts a quarrel with loved ones. If a woman places shoes on the table, this may foreshadow the birth of a child for her or her relatives.
• When giving shoes to your loved one, you need to be one that he or she will definitely like and fit. This is for a long-term relationship. But you shouldn’t give slippers. Presented as a gift they symbolize afterworld. It is believed that slippers given as a gift to a loved one, portend a deterioration in relations with him.
• Squeaky shoes indicate that the owner has offended someone. Remember and try to make peace with this person, and you need to confess to him in squeaky shoes.
• Double-check your shoe boxes: clean the ones that are wearable and get rid of the old ones. Keeping shoes with holes in the house means illness and troubles. However, it is not recommended to simply throw away shoes - they can cause damage; it is better to burn them - this scares away evil spirits.
• If your laces get knotted, don't worry. This is good luck. If it doesn’t bother you when walking, walk with it for at least a day - this way you’ll be more likely to attract good fortune.
• Shoes should be placed correctly on the shelf, the right shoe should not cross the left one, they should not change places. An incorrect position predicts quarrels, troubles, and misunderstandings in the house. However, if you want to see your loved one in a dream, you need to take the shoes, put them in your room and arrange them in a “t” shape.
• It is better not to wear it to an important event. new shoes- this can scare away luck. Don't let it go, put on your old one!
• It is recommended to burn old shoes before a long journey and take some ashes with you in a handkerchief - this will be a good talisman on the road.
• Don't wear fishing boots under your arm - you're asking for trouble.
• Do not wear boots on bare feet - this will result in material losses.
• Never gamble: if you are barefoot, you will not hit the jackpot.
• If you accidentally put your right shoe on your left foot, and your left shoe on your right, this may portend loss of reputation, slander, slander.
• Putting your shoes on with the right and left sides mixed up can mean some kind of health hazard.
• When you go to an important meeting, put a patch under your left heel in your shoes - this will attract good luck and help you overcome any difficult situations.
• If the groom drinks every drop from the bride's shoe, his love for her will fill him throughout his life.
• About the bride's shoes, omens say that at a wedding there must be closed shoes, not sandals. It is believed that the more holes and weaves on the bride’s shoes, the greater the likelihood that her feminine happiness will escape through them.
• Before the wedding, the bride should wear shoes, at least at home. Worn shoes will bring happiness, luck and joy to the future wife.
• New leather shoes should be lubricated with castor oil (better if the purchase is made on the waxing Moon) and knocked on the floor three times - then they will last longer.
• Stumbling with your right foot and not damaging your shoes - fortunately, stumbling with your left foot and not damaging your shoes - is a sign of acquaintance.
• Losing shoes means getting rid of bad acquaintances.
• Finding shoes is a sign of joy and promotion.
• If the sole breaks, you may have encountered a carrier of negative energy. The shoes took the negativity upon themselves. Therefore, you need to get rid of it - it’s better to burn it. If this is not possible, throw it in the trash can, hiding a piece of bread inside and saying: “I am happy, and I am happy!”
• Don't let strangers wash your shoes - they can take your energy. Always do this yourself and only with good thoughts and a positive attitude.
• Losing shoes on the road means good changes.
• A shoe thrown over the threshold can show which side to wait for your betrothed.
• Turning your foot in a new shoe is a sign of surprises.
• Stepping into an indecent pile means money.
• If a dog chews a shoe, beware of a quarrel with loved ones.
• If a cat marks a boot, it means visiting guests from afar.
• If you poured water on your shoes, in a few days you will meet a person whom you have often thought about lately.
• When someone steps on the right foot - to unexpected profits, when on the left - to losses.
• If your shoe laces constantly break, this portends success in small adventures, easy money and dubious acquaintances.
• If you step on a nut or nail, then trouble awaits you in the government house.
• If your heel gets stuck in a crevice in the asphalt, good luck.
• A boot left in the garden since the fall is infested with insects, mice, etc. - a sign of a change of place of residence, an improvement in living conditions.
• If during a quarrel someone throws a shoe at you and doesn’t hit you, it means good health, and if it hits you, it means troubles in the government house.
• Losing a glove is bad luck
• If a man covers his head with a woman's scarf during marital intercourse, a girl will be born
• If, when trying on a dress, they sew it onto a shirt, then someone will fall in love with you
• If there is a thread (basting) in a newly sewn dress - to a long life
• If, when leaving a house, you slam or pinch the hem of your dress, this means that you will be “backwards”, that is, for some reason you will have to return to that house again
• If a girl's hem is always wet or dirty, then her future husband will be a drunkard
• If the hem is turned up while dressing, then on that day you will have to be drunk or beaten
• The collar of a shirt must be unbuttoned at night: an angel inspects those sleeping at night and whoever finds the collar open rejoices, and the devil cries; in front of a sleeping person with a buttoned collar - on the contrary
• You can’t even walk around the room in one boot: your mother will die
• If the wife puts on the right boot first, then the borscht will be good
• The insoles of boots should not be shaken out in a place where they walk, because if someone steps over this place or the insole itself, he will certainly have a runny nose
• Wear a stocking inside out - you'll be drunk or beaten
• If, having forgotten yourself, you go to bed in one stocking, then the one you are waiting for will come
• Constantly losing socks indicates problems with a partner, dysfunctional personal life and lack of happiness in a man’s life.

There are so many sayings about shoes! The mocking “Eh, he’s under the heel”, the romantic “Two boots are a pair”, the gloomy “Throw away the slippers”, “Sit in your galoshes”, “We don’t slurp cabbage soup with bast shoes”... Americans have an expression “Put on your father’s shoes”, similar to our “Go in the footsteps." The English say, “Walk a mile in my shoes,” when they want to encourage someone to understand their point of view. And it was no accident that the shoes received such attention! In the old days, shoes, boots and even slippers were considered a difficult object, directly related to a person’s vital forces, so they continue to make signs about them to this day.

General signs about shoes

Among esotericists, mystics and sorcerers of all kinds, a person’s personal belongings have always aroused increased interest. It was believed that an object that someone carries on themselves (or with them) day after day, over time absorbs the energy of its owner and becomes inextricably linked with him. So much so that it begins to foresee the sorrows and joys awaiting the owner, and persistently signal about them. The ability to “vange” was attributed to clothing, hats, and jewelry. But if you estimate the total number of signs, shoes will emerge as the undisputed leaders: for some reason, the predictions of rough traveling boots and elegant house slippers enjoyed increased confidence among our ancestors.

Torn, the sole burst, the heel fell off and other damage

Worn boots received a personal monument

• If the sole of your shoes suddenly bursts or breaks, remember if you recently interacted with an unpleasant person. Shoes, provided that the owner wears them for more than the first week, are considered a strong talisman from the evil eye. And it doesn’t matter whether someone purposefully caused damage or you had to come into contact with an energy vampire who has a bad influence on all interlocutors indiscriminately. In any case, the blow aimed at the owner was taken by the shoes, for which they suffered.
• A shoe suddenly “asking for porridge” testifies to the same thing: an enemy is sharpening its teeth on you, not disdaining the most vile and base tricks. Or the shoes arrived from China and fell apart on their own, which is much more common these days.
• Did the sole crack just before you left the house? The path will be unsuccessful. It is better to put off all important matters on this day and relax a little.
• Sometimes pets actively interfere in the prediction process. Thus, a cat that marks its owner’s shoes warns of the arrival of distant relatives, and a dog that thoroughly chews a shoe predicts a big family scandal. True, you shouldn’t discount another interpretation: you are a very gentle and kind person, and the furry crew brazenly takes advantage of this and does whatever they want in your house.
• Have you accidentally splashed water on your shoes? It seems that Fortune has heard your secret dreams and is preparing a meeting with a person who has not been out of your head for several days now. Everything is logical: without clean shoes you can’t impress your chosen one.

Shoes that remained unharmed after their owner tripped on some obstacle and somersaulted in the road dust are a good sign. Wait for pleasant events! The right leg predicts great joy, the left leg predicts an interesting acquaintance. But twisting your ankle in new shoes means getting into trouble.

Water will clean everything!

Is it possible to throw away the old one: the opinion of popular wisdom

Under no circumstances did the ancestors want to keep worn out, torn and holey shoes in the house, because according to signs this would inevitably entail illnesses and losses. However, it was dangerous to throw away a personal item that had served faithfully for many months in the trash: how would you know who would pick it up and for what purpose would it be used? To get rid of old boots and slippers, there was a whole set of rituals:

1. They threw used shoes into a stove or fire in a vacant lot, saying: “Burn with fire, take everything with you.” And with this they killed not even two, but three birds with one stone! Firstly, the potentially dangerous item was no longer in danger of falling into the hands of the enemy. Secondly, the bread in such an oven should have been tasty and fluffy. And thirdly, by strange coincidence, the evil spirits could not stand the smell of burning shoes and rushed out of the house. It must be true that the shoes of our ancestors were “spiritual”; at that time, feet were washed from time to time...
2. If it was not possible to make a fire, they put a crust of bread in the toe of a leaky shoe and could calmly throw it into a vacant lot with the words: “I am happy, and I am happy.”
3. Or they carefully washed their shoes with requests and slander for the water to wash off the owner’s spirit from the shoes: “It was mine, it’s now nobody’s.” But something that doesn’t belong to anyone is not scary to throw away.

Washed in clean water shoes or boots, if they looked decent, it was not a sin to give them to someone who needed them. For a long time in Rus' there was even a belief according to which the soul of a person who had not given anyone a single pair of shoes in his entire life had to wander barefoot in the next world.

Find, lose or forget

• Found shoes, no matter what condition they are in, symbolize success in business. You have to climb up the career ladder, and fate carefully provides a pair of shoes for this.
• But you shouldn’t worry about losing your favorite slippers or boots. Along with them, some people or connections that have been weighing on you for a long time will leave your life.
• You have yet to return to the house where you managed to forget your shoes - for example, you came to stay with a relative or friend for an overnight stay and left the replacement slippers you brought with you. And if we are talking about a loved one’s apartment, you can safely hope for a marriage proposal: it seems that here they are already ready to accept you as a full-fledged mistress. It’s a pity, there’s no point in deliberately forgetting your slippers; the sign won't work.

Confused, accidentally wearing different left or right shoes, someone else's shoes

You can try it on, but you can’t wear it

• Shoes mixed up on a shelf are a warning to be more lenient towards your loved ones. You can ruin your relationship for a long time because of a stupid quarrel, and such mistakes will be difficult to correct.
• If in a hurry you happen to pull your right shoe onto your left foot and vice versa, take off your shoes and put this pair aside. Leaving the house in it means getting into trouble that will damage your good name. By the way, superstitions advise starting to put on your shoes with your left foot: for some reason this should protect you from minor troubles in life in general and toothache in particular.
• In a hurry, did you put on shoes from two different pairs? Rejoice! They say that this event will lead to prosperity and the fulfillment of a cherished desire.
• It’s no less pleasant to accidentally put on someone else’s shoe - say, in the common locker room at the pool or at a party. Don’t be embarrassed, but rather offer the owner or mistress of the accidentally stolen shoe a chocolate or any other small gift, and you can count on fate’s encouragement in the form of a new useful acquaintance, a romantic meeting or good news.
• However, superstitions strictly prohibit wearing someone else’s shoes on purpose. Who can guarantee that someone else's energy that has permeated the slippers will not cause harm? If you don’t believe in omens, believe in the fungus, from which no one is safe, and still follow the advice of your ancestors. An exception can be made only for the bride on her wedding day: if among her friends there is one who is happily married, a borrowed pair of shoes from her will lead you straight to family happiness. Especially if you sincerely believe in it.
• Under no circumstances should you wear the shoes of a dead person: it is believed that they will help the new owner of the shoes trample the path to their own death.

It is better not to let strangers near your shoes at all. In the old days, even when someone began to wash someone else's shoes, the ancestors frowned with displeasure: a too helpful stranger would not steal the owner's vital energy! On the other hand, both a hundred years ago and earlier, there were bootblacks whom no one was afraid of. Apparently, laziness is a stronger thing than superstition.

How to put shoes in the house: with toes or heels towards the exit

Order in the hallway - peace in the house

• Do not place shoes with their toes next to the front door if you do not want to escort its owner out of the apartment. And if one of the household members has the habit of taking off his shoes, turning around to face the exit, you should be concerned about his state of mind. Psychologists believe that this is what a person does who feels uncomfortable at home and subconsciously dreams of breaking free.
• Shoes falling criss-cross aren't too bad either. good sign. She will emit negative energy, which you, of course, do not need.
• But shoes or boots placed in the shape of the letter T, according to legend, relieve nightmares and cramps. If you make this simple composition from slippers and hide it under the bed, you can see your betrothed in a dream. Why not check the sign in practice, it’s a simple matter?
• Shoes with their soles turned upside down towards the ceiling also promote peace of mind. Everywhere except Japan. Here, on the contrary, they are considered a harbinger of a family quarrel.
• There is also such an unexpected recipe: if you are bothered by a barking dog in the yard at night, turn one of your house slippers or shoes upside down, and the “empty mind” will calm down. I wonder how many have tried to do this in practice?
• You cannot place shoes on a stool or table, this promises the owner trouble, illness and death, and certainly from the noose. The method of association must have worked here, because climbing with shoes on a table would occur to few people except a suicide.
• However, the gloomy omen does not apply to women. The extravagant lady who left her shoes in such an unusual place is promised an early pregnancy. And if the woman herself does not plan to have offspring, the omen passes forward to her closest relative.

If men's or women's shoes squeak

• Some interpreters call squeaky shoes a harbinger of illness, while others call it a sign of a bad conscience. If you have recently hurt someone, hurry up to ask for forgiveness and resolve the conflict. Moreover, you need to go to conclude a peace treaty wearing “talking” shoes, then you will certainly be forgiven.
• But for a debutant actor, his first appearance on stage in “squeaky” boots predicts resounding success. And if, in the dressing room after the performance, the shoes that were thrown off in a hurry neatly lie down with the soles down, glory is not far off.

If it fell off a girl’s or a man’s leg

A shoe falling off a person's foot is considered an extremely bad omen. On the way, this event promises failure of the planned business; under normal circumstances, it means a serious threat to life.

"Professional" signs

Fishermen never wear their shoes slung over their shoulders, and jockeys never put their boots on the floor - this discourages luck.

Other about new and old

Many people know the old Christmas custom. unmarried girls stands with his back to the gate or front door and throws the shoe over his shoulder. He will point with his toe to the exit, to be the fortune teller's bride this year. She will lay her heel to the door - the beauty will sit “in girls” for 12 whole months. If the shoe falls sideways towards the exit, you can’t count on a sweetheart to appear soon, but the girl won’t stay too long with her parents either, she will go on a trip or study far from her home.

Shoes, slippers or boots? Fortune telling by type of shoe

Most often, superstitions do not specify what kind of shoes they are talking about. But in the piggy bank folk wisdom whatever you can find! There are also a couple of beliefs that relate only to slippers, boots or shoes.

About shoes: how to buy and wear them correctly

For such new things - only during the waxing moon!

• Walking in one shoe means being alone forever.
• If the heel of a shoe breaks, you will receive bad news.
• Once you burn your old shoes in the oven on the eve of Christmas, you will have no shortage of new things for a year.
• In order for expensive leather shoes to last as long as possible, you should buy them “on the waxing moon.” And don’t forget to rub your purchase with castor oil at home and click your heels on the floor three times, it will be more accurate.
• Give your other half beautiful shoes that fit exactly on your feet - you will become inseparable, like a pair of elegant shoes. But be careful! Signs warn: if a gift is not to the liking of your loved one, you will no longer be together, run away at the first opportunity... On the other hand, will some shoes break a strong pair?

About slippers: can they be given as gifts, kept under the bed, etc.

Even such cuties can scare someone

• Never give slippers to superstitious people! Even expensive ones, embroidered with Swarovski crystals and lined with Mexican jerboa fur. They will perceive your generous gesture as a wish to “throw away your slippers” as soon as possible and will be terribly offended.
• Don't throw your house shoes anywhere - you'll get into an argument. Don't keep it under the bed - your husband will be pulled to the left. Don't hide it under the chest of drawers - you will attract uninvited guests with master keys into the house.
• Omens advise ladies to ensure that their loved one’s slippers are always fresh and clean, they say, this will allow the spark between you not to fade away. Or maybe the answer lies in the care that a woman shows for her partner?
• When moving to a new place of residence, you need to take every single slipper from your old apartment. Our ancestors believed that the Brownie remains in forgotten shoes, and without him it would be impossible to establish a household in a new place.
• Is it not in your rules to obediently wait for a wandering betrothed who knows where? Hurry him up with a simple ritual. Buy a good-quality, beautiful pair of men's slippers - don't skimp, perhaps your chosen one will sport them a little later - bring it home and leave it in the hallway against the wall for three days. Don't forget to send your purchase of socks to the apartment, this is important! After allowing the slippers to “get comfortable” in your new place of residence, at exactly midnight, quietly open front door, put the new thing on your hands, kneel down facing the apartment and “step” over the threshold with your hands in slippers as if your betrothed-mummer was already entering the house. The job is done, leave your shoes against the wall in the hallway, wait for their future owner, and go to bed.

Some purposeful girls spend a whole day before the ritual. preparatory work. They “take” the slippers in their purse to exhibitions and movies so that the chosen one turns out to be a cultured person. They rub it with banknotes so that precious pieces of paper rustle in the pocket of your loved one. They take them with them for walks along the river - perhaps the new boyfriend will turn out to have a romantic note in his soul. At the same time, it is important to treat your innocent witchcraft simply, without strain and with a bit of humor. For those obsessed with the thought “I want to get married,” the ritual does not work.

About wedding shoes

the main task wedding shoes- the bride likes it. The rest is small stuff

We started talking about “marriage” at the right time, because it is difficult to find a more superstitious girl than the bride in front of the registry office. Even those who, on an ordinary day, without fear, would sweep an overturned salt shaker into the trash can and cross the road behind black cat, they prefer not to violate numerous wedding signs - “what if it comes true”...

• The bride's shoes should not have perforations: happiness will leak into the holes, and the bad energy of envious people will stick to the ground.
• Walking down the aisle in sandals means spending your entire life “barefoot,” that is, in poverty.
• Buckles on wedding shoes will fasten the baby's path and the birth will be difficult.
• The heel breaks - family life What lies ahead is clumsy and scandalous, “limping” on both legs.
• Losing your shoes on the way to the registry office means not knowing the peace of a married person, always fussing and fussing.
• The groom's light shoes predict for him short life, and the boots indicate a tough temper: the young husband would not start beating his betrothed!
• A coin placed under the bride's right heel promises happy life in marriage, and in the groom's shoe predicts prosperity in the family.
• Wedding shoes must be purchased on Friday. And don’t forget to walk around in them for an hour or two on the eve of the celebration, so that the shoes become symbolically worn, as required by custom.

And your feet will be more comfortable in your usual “fit for size” shoes.

The old “hussar” tradition, which requires the groom to drink sparkling champagne from the bride’s shoe, seems unhygienic and unpleasant to many in our time. Not only will the groom have to swallow who knows what, but the girl will also be forced to splash around in sticky shoes all day! But if you still decide to follow the custom, signs will predict adoration and reverent care on the part of your husband for a bride with bare feet, and the submission and love of his companion for a brave groom. One interpretation says that in such an original way, a man takes away the obstinate disposition from the newlywed.

About boots

• Who's first in line for the housewarming party?
• Putting a boot on your bare foot means wasting a large amount of money in vain. If a boot forgotten in the yard contains small animals - beetles, ants or centipedes - its owner will have to move to new apartment

, and with great benefit.

By fragment or fittings

And that is not all! Did you know that not only a whole boot or slippers, but even part of a shoe is suitable for predictions? A heel, say, can give your forecast for the future. Or a lace.

• Heel: breaks, wobbles, gets stuck
• Broke - expect trouble.
• If it is wobbly or bent, your position is just as shaky. Take measures to avoid falling.

Stuck in the asphalt - you will receive a joyful surprise where you didn’t expect it.

• Laces: torn, untied, knots on them
• Are they torn every now and then? This is for money!
• Untied? Be careful, you are in danger.
• On the contrary, they tie themselves in knots? If we are talking about the left leg, beware of gossip, about the right leg - expect praise. And some people regard every knot on a lace as a prediction of great luck and do not think about untangling it, even if it causes inconvenience.
• You cannot put laced shoes away for storage - your feet will start to hurt.
• You cannot tie your shoes together: even when you untie them, the laces will not “untangle” and you will stumble out of the blue. With the most serious consequences.

You cannot put brown and black laces into shoes at the same time. Besides the fact that it looks strange, the black color symbolizes death, and the brown color symbolizes the land in which the owner of the surreal boots will find himself.

In order for a long-absent family member to knock on the door as soon as possible, you should take his shoes, swap right and left twice, and then lace them tightly, saying: “Come back quickly, don’t spare any effort.”

Heels: tear off, break, lose

A torn, broken or lost heel portends failure on the road and stagnation in business. Take a few days off and make a new action plan - the old one is no good.

What do worn soles mean?

In England, to this day they sing a rhyme: “If your toe is crooked, it means you will live in melancholy; if the bevel is on the side - become a bride in the juice; if you wipe it under your finger, you will lose wealth; if you wipe off your shoes at your heels, you will be rich.”

Neutralizing bad predictions

It is relatively easy to avoid the “coming true” of bad omens. We remove shoes that have made an unpleasant prediction as soon as possible and put them away on a shelf for at least a few days. We immediately take the broken one for repairs so as not to keep anything leaky or leaky in the house. Wash and throw away any that are unfit for wear. For slippers given out of ignorance, we give a small coin to turn the gift into a purchase. And most importantly, don’t focus on bad omens.

Carrie Bradshaw wasn't the only one who felt awe at the sight of a new pair of shoes. In our wardrobes you will find a lot of pumps, boots, sneakers, slates, shoes... And not only women's ones! And since you already have shoes, from time to time you will lose heels and heels, step into puddles and dog piles, twist your legs, limping home in delightful, but terribly uncomfortable shoes. And here you need to try not to perceive any random trouble as a verdict of fate, but mentally make a note: “be careful” and walk on, victoriously tapping your heels on the asphalt.

From generation to generation, people are accustomed to passing on the signs and superstitions accumulated over the years. The emergence of various kinds of beliefs is associated with long observations and many coincidences. Some of them have not survived to this day, although most of remains relevant today.

Every person's wardrobe must have at least one pair of shoes with laces. Such a simple element, thanks to which the shoe fits well on the foot, sometimes causes a lot of inconvenience. An untied shoelace not only looks unsightly, but can also cause a person to fall. It turns out that there are quite a few interesting signs touching untied shoelaces. Maybe it’s worth listening to them sometimes?

What does the sign say?

If your shoelace comes undone, take a careful look around, you may be lucky enough to find a long-lost and valuable item. A lace that comes undone while walking is a warning of betrayal or quarrel with loved ones.

According to another sign, if a shoelace comes undone on your left leg, you need to prepare for something bad. IN best case scenario, they speak unflatteringly about a person behind his back, it’s worse if some misfortune happens in life.

Do not be upset when the lace comes undone on your right leg, this is for the good. They say a lot of good things about such a person, and very soon his life will change for the better.

An untied lace can be stepped on and broken. This is a harbinger of bad events. There is a counter-sign in this regard, according to which a broken lace should be tied while thinking about something good at that moment. If, when tying broken shoelaces, you make a wish. It should come true soon. Since a torn cord warns of bad deeds and events, you should pay attention to the behavior of your loved one; perhaps you are in captivity of deception.

The sign about when it is impossible to untie a shoelace is interpreted in different ways. On the one hand, this is a warning about an impending conflict, on the other, a message about an upcoming romantic date.

Don’t be too quick to be biased about laces, given the beliefs associated with them. There are good moments in life that happen precisely thanks to these capricious accessories. So, for example, a knot accidentally tied in a lace speaks of imminent unexpected luck, and a lace that breaks very often means getting easy money.

Having little interest in spiritual and church life itself, our people show amazing activity and sophistication in inventing all kinds of traditions, customs and rules that supposedly relate to spiritual life, but in fact not only disagree with it, but are also contrary to church teaching and common sense, serving as an expression of a vague fear of “another life” and a superstitious desire to somehow “get along” with this world. And in no other sphere, it seems, is there such a multitude of completely meaningless and inexplicable superstitions as in the sphere of seeing off the deceased “to another world.” And one strikes common feature: all these (essentially intuitive-pagan and having no relation to the Church) people consider it something obligatory and closely related to church ritual, so that sometimes they baffle the priest with questions that are completely meaningless from the point of view of church life:

Father, when should you wipe the threshold after removing the body?

When should you turn stools?

And who should put a loaf of bread on the lid of the coffin?

Which hand should I tie the scarf on?

When should you take fresh flowers out of the coffin?

When should I bring breakfast to the grave?

Until what day should mirrors be covered?

When will you “seal the earth”?..

Here I will linger a little, because this “sealing,” which has already firmly entered the public consciousness as a necessary church rite, requires separate consideration. So what is “earth sealing”? According to the testimony of old people, at a time when the remains of fallen soldiers literally littered the Russian soil, and their resting places were often unknown, mothers and wives of soldiers began to bring bundles of earth to churches, over which the priest performed in absentia funeral rite or “sequence of burial of worldly bodies” with a memorial prayer for the deceased. The priest covered this land with a cross (“sealed”), and then the relatives carried it to the cemetery and scattered it in a cross shape on the grave mounds of their closest relatives with the words: “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

During the Khrushchev era, when the persecution of the Church acquired a Jesuit character, this ritual spread even more. Priests were no longer shot or imprisoned, but they tried to destroy parish life through administrative measures. And one of the demands of the authorities was that the priest should not perform services outside the church - on the one hand, and on the other - that people should not bring the deceased to the church for funeral services. This was strictly monitored and people could be punished if they found out that they had brought their deceased relative to the temple for a funeral service. So people carried everything and carried bundles of earth to the temple... And now even if Orthodox man for one reason or another it was not possible to bury in a Christian manner, relatives bring the earth to the temple, and the priest, having asked about the circumstances of the case, in the absence of canonical obstacles, performs the funeral ceremony in absentia. But even in the case of an “in-person” funeral service, this tradition of “sealing” has become so firmly established in church practice that, at least in Crimea, it is still customary to place a bundle of earth and a burning candle in the coffin of the deceased, and at the end of the funeral service to cover this earth three times cross with the words: “The earth is the Lord’s, and its fulfillment, the universe and all who live on it.” This soil is then scattered in a cross pattern into the coffin or into the grave on top of the coffin. And although there is a direct need for this “bundle with earth” in in this case no, but here at least common church sense can be traced and the words of the psalm remind us that the earth, as part of the created world, belongs to the Lord and we completely entrust the care of the body and soul of our neighbor into God’s hands with hope and trust in His mercy.

There will certainly be a “knowledgeable neighbor” who will remove the relative of the deceased with a cry of sacred horror: “You are not allowed!”

Sometimes, if a funeral service takes place in the house of the deceased, and the priest does not participate in the funeral procession, he asks someone to scatter this earth upon arrival at the cemetery. And here there will certainly be a “knowledgeable neighbor” who will remove the relative of the deceased from this action with words filled with sacred horror: “You are not allowed!” That is close relative for some reason this action, like many other things related to funerals, cannot be performed. And this completely senseless fear, clothed in many equally inexplicable rules, darkens and intimidates people, depriving them of the simplicity of love and trust in God. And this once again suggests that the “war with the ancient serpent”, that is, warfare Orthodox faith with dark paganism - this is not a legend of deep antiquity, but an essential reality of our days.

And the saints were afraid of death, but this is a different fear, coupled with reverence and awareness of the greatness of God

Of course, death is a reminder of man’s tragic falling away from God, a reminder of the bitter fruits of sin. Death is truly terrible and disgusting to our nature. And the great saints were afraid of death, but this is a different fear, coupled with reverence and awareness of the greatness of God, a fear filled with great humility and love, and therefore with grace given from the Lord. And death was perceived by holy people as a great and mysterious transition to another world, where the indescribable joy of meeting the Giver of life awaits a Christian. Joy is the main word, although it is associated with sobriety, fear of God and reverence.

This is not the fear inspired by demons and plunging a person into gloomy cowardice and depriving him of the opportunity to be a partaker of Divine beauty and truth.

And again, you are amazed at how tenacious these dark pagan concepts are, how they persistently try to entangle themselves with the concepts and rules of church life.

There are countless examples.

Recently, one person called me to clarify: is it true that a fence on a grave must definitely be made with a “gate” so that the soul “which flies out from time to time” can then “return safely.” And this was advised to him not by some “grandmother”, but by an employee of a church shop. I’m horrified, but I believe - perhaps, if only because I find no reason not to trust this man.

Another time I had the opportunity to perform a funeral service for a man in a cemetery. And now the funeral service is over, I’m packing my essential suitcase, and suddenly the life-worn face of one of those who are called “kopachi” appears in front of me. A young guy with a puzzled look and boots with untied dangling laces.

Father,” he asked with a pained look, “tell me, is it true that diggers can’t work with their shoelaces tied?” I was completely exhausted. There are no other shoes, and with untied laces it’s so uncomfortable, you’ll get tangled up and fall into the grave...

Well, what can I say!.. Both laughter and sin. Maybe his fellow diggers were playing a joke on the young comrade, I don’t know, but this incident in itself is quite remarkable. Of course, I calmed this guy down, and he immediately, with undisguised relief, began tying his dangling and mud-stained shoelaces.

But this is still true... flowers. The last event that prompted me to write this text happened a month ago. A boy, the grandson of a deceased grandmother, brought me to a distant village for a funeral service. We agreed with him that he would take me back. And so, already during the funeral service, her energetic and managerial appearance attracted the attention of such a “knowledgeable” woman who, on the one hand, said and did the right things, like distributing candles wrapped in napkins and offering the priest a clean towel under the cross and the Gospel , but then she “screwed up” some absurdities. For example, after the funeral service, when they began to collect the cinders left by people, and someone began to unwind the napkin, she literally screamed in horror: “What are you doing? Don’t unwind!” By the way, these napkins are needed to prevent wax from a hot candle from dripping onto your hands. That's all. This wrapping has no mystical meaning.

I buried my grandmother in the house, packed my suitcase, went out into the yard, found a car, got into it (my grandson was already waiting for me) and... I was taken aback. All mirrors - side and rear view - were carefully wrapped in handkerchiefs. This is where it just blurted out to me:

Did they decide to send you after your grandmother?!

Well, really, how can you not understand that by such actions you are putting a person’s life in real danger?! There truly are no limits to superstitious meaninglessness.

Of course, the boy and I unwound these scarves and folded them neatly, so that the driver would then give them to the one who tied them with such care - let her do what she wants with them. And then I thought once again: it’s time for the whole world to decisively tie these “dangling laces” of all kinds of pagan superstitions, concerns, fears, guesses and opinions. And the main thing is to fight again and again with the terrible and inert reluctance to delve into genuine spiritual life. Patiently convince people of the need to share the high and meaningful wisdom of church life.

There is no other way to get rid of superstitious anxiety other than completely surrendering yourself into the hands of God

Because the main reason for the emergence and survival of all these endless and meaningless dark superstitions, rituals and insurances is widespread ignorance in matters of church life. When, instead of the purity of the holy Orthodox faith, people plunge into the darkness of superstitious experiences, anxieties and fears. And God grant us to finally understand that there is no other way to get rid of all this terrible suspiciousness, anxiety and fears other than completely surrendering ourselves into the hands of God, other than standing in the right faith and living in harmony with it.

We often hear about such a trait of a Russian person as gullibility. This is partly true, but if you look more closely, you will notice that the “average” Russian person can be very cautious and suspicious in dealing with others, but simply amazingly gullible and naive in relation to some “spiritual” ideas, manipulations and proposals. And when it’s decent to look respectable dressed man suddenly announces in a confused voice: “Father... I... buried dolls in the cemetery yesterday!”, then at first you just go dumb and think that you misheard. But no. And it turns out that the man turned to “spiritual specialists” to solve some of his everyday problems, and they, having confused the unfortunate man and emptied his pockets, left him to be mocked by demons. And only after committing an obviously inappropriate act did this person finally realize that he was doing “something wrong.”

If you look at the problem more broadly, here's what needs to be said. The misunderstood freedom has extended its influence into the sphere of our moral and spiritual life. So, every person is ready to recognize the “wind of his own head” or the first teaching that he likes, flattering one or another passion, as the truth. The disastrous opinion that there are many truths corrupts the spiritual and moral life of every person and the people as a whole. As a result, people are increasingly less able to distinguish truth from lies, real from fake, blessing from curse. The country has a frightening number of charlatans, magicians, astrologers, fortune tellers, sorcerers, sorcerers and wizards, ranging from the obviously possessed, spiritually ill to swindlers and swindlers of all stripes, under the guise of “spiritual experts” taking advantage of the general ignorance and gullibility of people. Everywhere we see the manifestation of charlatanism: on the one hand, those who themselves believe in all the nonsense that they spew, and on the other, those who only pretend to be, trying to extract self-interest and profit. But in any case, this rampant of destructive malice has already reached such proportions that, honestly, it’s time to restore order. Here, probably, the state should have its say, but people themselves need to understand that spiritual life requires proper organization, that is, bringing it into agreement with the law of God. With regard to mental and physical life, these rules are simple and clear: work, don’t cheat, be merciful, take care of your family, learn to be content with little. But in spiritual life such rules also exist. And the most important of them is being in the Church, church life. Because the Lord has precisely determined for us to achieve knowledge of the truth in the Church, which He Himself created for us and which is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15).

And all that unkind difference of opinion, all that occult-esoteric, magical confusion that we are talking about can be overcome only by adhering to the sound teaching of the Church, which gives us real, not illusory, freedom. Freedom from lies, darkness, delusion and sin. And only freedom in Christ can teach us to live a common worthy life and move towards a common goal. “What is the goal?” - someone will ask. Yes, everything is the same, highest and united both for the individual and for the Fatherland as a whole. And it is indicated in Holy Scripture in simple words: “Enter into the joy of your Lord” (cf. Matt. 25:21). We have no other, more important goal, just as we have no other, highest joy.

From generation to generation, our ancestors passed on their observations and associated signs. Much has been lost over the centuries, but some superstitions still exist today. For example, many beliefs are associated with various items of clothing. You cannot sew anything on yourself or sew on buttons, so as not to “sew up” the memory. The loss of small items of costume promises a quick marriage, and the soiled outfit of the hero of the day means the evil intentions of ill-wishers.

There are also many beliefs regarding shoes. It is difficult to find a person who does not have at least one pair decorated with lacing. This simple device securely holds shoes or boots on the foot, and in addition, serves as an additional decorative element. However, it often causes justified irritation when it suddenly comes loose at the most inopportune moment. In addition to unpleasant everyday moments, the sign of “untied shoelaces” has several mystical interpretations.

• An unexpected loosening of the lacing often foreshadows an unexpected pleasant find. Most likely, it will be a long-lost item that does not represent much material value, but has special meaning for you.
• If trouble occurs while driving, you should prepare for bad consequences. In the near future, your actions will become the cause of conflict with colleagues or a reason for a quarrel with loved ones.
• Untied left lace will warn of impending troubles. Perhaps someone will start spreading dirty gossip behind your back, or an accident will happen to a loved one.
• Loosening the knot by right lace, on the contrary, promises only good things. The incident means that you are praised by friends and colleagues, and positive changes will soon occur in your life.
• If the opposite happens with your shoes, and the laces are tied in too tight knots, then such an event warns of an upcoming conflict at work. Another interpretation has a more pleasant connotation and hints at an imminent romantic date.
• Shoelaces that come undone while quietly driving your own car portend danger. This is quite logical, considering that their loose ends can become a hindrance when driving. However, the effect of the sign is much broader: injuries and other troubles can lie in wait even at home or in the park during a walk.
• All of the above signs are valid if the shoelaces become untied accidentally. What do the laces, untied at the will of the shoe owner, promise? If you loosen the lacing to remove shoes or boots, then in this case the signs do not work. However, there are people who like to tie pairs of shoes together with laces to make them easier to put away. Then forcibly untied shoelaces foreshadow a difficult road to the desired goal.