Every culture has its own peculiar superstitions and beliefs, and Russia is no exception. Some things like preventing a black cat from crossing your path are the same in Russia and the West, but I have encountered my share of “what are you doing?” Reactions. Faced with some of my own superstitious Russian rituals. Here’s a cheat sheet so you can be prepared for what you may see your Russian friends and hosts doing and saying:
Sit down before going on a long trip
Russians sometimes sit somewhere near the door inside their house before leaving. Even if only one person travels from a family or couple, the whole group will sit, just for a short time, 30 seconds to a minute. This is supposed to ensure a successful trip (or rather, avoid a disastrous trip).
Knock on wood
As in the West, when someone in Russia says something that they hope will stay that way (for example, “I am quite healthy”) they will knock on wood. However, they don’t actually say “knock on wood.” They perform the action of striking and then spitting three times over their left shoulder (they generally don’t literally spit, they just make the movement and the sound). This is supposed to symbolize spitting at the devil. Even if they don’t do the spitting part, Russians will tend to literally hit something, and in the absence of wood, usually their own heads.
Stepping on someone’s foot
If a person accidentally steps on someone’s foot in Russia, it’s quite common for the person to lightly step on the other’s foot. This is because an unreturned step means that the two of you will have a fight in the future; returning the offense prevents the fight.
Don’t step on people
If someone is on the ground (for example, sitting or lying in the park or on the floor), they are not supposed to step on it or any part of their body. This is because stepping on someone means that they will stop growing. Sometimes if you’ve accidentally stepped on someone, you can step back on them to ‘lift the curse’.
Walking on different sides of a pole
Couples and friends should not walk across a pole or tree. This indicates that the relationship will end, some people take it very seriously!
No fur, no feathers
When someone has an exam, interview, audition, or some other event for which it is customary to wish good luck, you are not supposed to say “good luck.” Instead, it should say “ни пуха, ни пера”, which translated directly means “no hair, no feathers” and is the rough equivalent of “breaking a leg.” In response, the person should say “к чёрту!” Which literally means “to hell!”
hypo
If you have hiccups, Russians say it means someone is thinking of you. (That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to get rid of them!)
Unconfirmed Western superstitions in Russia
There are some things considered unfortunate in the West that don’t translate into Russian culture:
- Throwing salt over your shoulder. Spilled salt is considered unfortunate, but it is not customary to throw it over the shoulder.
- 13. The number thirteen is not considered particularly unlucky in Russia, and Russians find it amusing when they hear that many Western buildings skip the 13th floor when numbering the levels.
- Umbrellas It is very normal for Russians to open their umbrellas indoors to dry. It is not considered unfortunate to open an umbrella inside.
- Stairs Similarly, it is not considered unfortunate to walk under a staircase in Russia.
