- Joined
- Oct 9, 2010
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- Location
- Mexico City
- Website
- kajitochishio.tumblr.com
I've been looking at folklore sites, google-ing, wiki-ing etc. You know, the usual.
I live in Mexico, and there's a dearth of books in general here (even in the Capital, sad to say). Ordering them online is like to see them stolen as get here, so I'm limited to net resources :/
Anyhow, I was reading about superstitious behaviors practiced by Russians. One of them that interested me in particular was that if you're walking with someone and an obstacle appears, you should walk on the same side of the obstacle instead of letting it come between you. There wasn't an aside to this as to its origins, so I wondered if it was because something ill would happen to the relationship, or to one of the people. I imagined one of them ending up somewhere else and disappearing.
Is there some equivalent in Russian/Slavic folklore of wandering into the realm of other beings or deities on accident?
Also, is there some Russian/Slavic folklore equivalent of deals/bargains struck with spirits/faeries/demons (whatever you want to call them)? I know Baba Yaga makes a sort of deal with Vasalisa, but it's mostly an "I'll let you go" kind of a deal. I'm looking more for a tangible benefit or power in exchange for whatever it is the spirit/creature wants. If such a thing exists.
As an aside, if anyone knows any good reads/watches on Russian cultural practices during the late 1800s (court life, especially) that would be a great help too. It doesn’t have to be non-fiction as long as the basic every day life things are somewhat accurate.
I live in Mexico, and there's a dearth of books in general here (even in the Capital, sad to say). Ordering them online is like to see them stolen as get here, so I'm limited to net resources :/
Anyhow, I was reading about superstitious behaviors practiced by Russians. One of them that interested me in particular was that if you're walking with someone and an obstacle appears, you should walk on the same side of the obstacle instead of letting it come between you. There wasn't an aside to this as to its origins, so I wondered if it was because something ill would happen to the relationship, or to one of the people. I imagined one of them ending up somewhere else and disappearing.
Is there some equivalent in Russian/Slavic folklore of wandering into the realm of other beings or deities on accident?
Also, is there some Russian/Slavic folklore equivalent of deals/bargains struck with spirits/faeries/demons (whatever you want to call them)? I know Baba Yaga makes a sort of deal with Vasalisa, but it's mostly an "I'll let you go" kind of a deal. I'm looking more for a tangible benefit or power in exchange for whatever it is the spirit/creature wants. If such a thing exists.
As an aside, if anyone knows any good reads/watches on Russian cultural practices during the late 1800s (court life, especially) that would be a great help too. It doesn’t have to be non-fiction as long as the basic every day life things are somewhat accurate.
