Learn the superstitions about handing something or carrying the bride over the threshold of a door
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| INTRODUCTION |
| John: Hello and welcome to Culture Class: Russian Superstitions and Beliefs, Lesson 3 - Handing Something or Carrying the Bride Over the Threshold of a Door. I'm John and I'm joined by Karina. |
| Karina: Привет! (Privet!) I'm Karina. |
| THE TWO SUPERSTITIONS |
| John: In this lesson we will talk about two common superstitions in Russia. The first superstition is about bad luck. What’s the superstition called in Russian? |
| Karina: передавать через порог, (peredavat' cheres parok). |
| John: Which literally means "handing something over the threshold." Karina, can you repeat the Russian phrase again? |
| Karina: [slow] передавать через порог [normal] передавать через порог |
| John: In Russia, it's believed that you shouldn't hand anything over the threshold of a door. |
| Karina: Right. Instead, either go completely inside, or outside, of the house before you give something to someone. |
| John: This is because in the past, the ashes of one’s forefathers were buried under the threshold of the doorway. |
| Karina: Yeah, so handing something through the door could disturb their souls. |
| John: Wouldn’t want to disrespect your ancestors. |
| Karina: Right, they might ground you. |
| John: The second superstition is about good luck. What’s the superstition called in Russian? |
| Karina: переносить невесту через порог, (perenasit' nevestu cheres parok). |
| John: Which literally means "carrying the bride over the threshold." Let’s hear it in Russian again. |
| Karina: [slow] переносить невесту через порог [normal] переносить невесту через порог |
| John: In Russia, it's believed that a groom should carry his bride over the threshold when entering the house for the first time after the wedding. |
| Karina: Both of these superstitions are sort of related to each other. |
| John: Oh really, how so? |
| Karina: Well, remember how some believe that the spirits of one's forefathers live near the entrance? |
| John: Right. So, by bringing your new wife in the house using your own hands, it’s a bit like introducing her to them? |
| Karina: Yes. Kind of like a hand-shake. |
Outro |
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| John: There you have it - two Russian superstitions! Are they similar to any of your country’s superstitions? Let us know in the comments! |
| Karina: Пока! (Poka!) |
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