A. Faivushinksy
PRUZHANY's FOLKLORE
EXPRESSION
AGAINST "BAD EYE"
"I come on
behalf of G-d, Sky and Earth Creator,
with 10.000 Bibles, 10.000 Rolls of Torah, 10.000 "mezuzot" and 10.000 good angels that guard me. I
decide that "bad eyes" doesn't dominate and no catastrophe happens to
this boy. Here I come with the purity of G-d and his power, I come with the
stars, in patriarchs' Abraham, Itzhak
and Jacob privilege, in matriarchs' Sarah, Rivka, Rachel and Leah privilege,
and in grouper of fair and merciful, so
they protect this boy."
"I came here
for the first time saying expressions which remove "bad eyes" from
this boy. This boy is different, either when he suckles or eats or drinks, for
the sun or for the heat, for the father or the mother, for those who serve in
this house, or for an malicious
encounter. He is possessed by a fright happened during the night, by a cow, by
a dog, or a pig. Is possessed by a woman or by a man. Is scared by somebody small or big, and young or old, or for
wicked eyes, or for a wicked heart, and G-d doesn't want it, by the air, or by
fevered tears, and wicked tongs."
"Should
wicked things be expelled of this boy, and disappear with the smoke, with the
wind on the waters, on the fields. There where it is a fortified castle and
under padlock all wicked things should be contained and will not domain this
boy. Without breaking him, without puncturing him, without burning him, neither
his head, neither his eyes, neither his legs, neither his spine, neither his
stomach, neither his heart, neither his 248 members and 365 veins will not be
damaged in this boy. As well as the Earth is silent will be silenced his
pains."
POPULAR BELIEFS
"Bad eye" |
a) Should
not be cleaned eyes of another person without washing before the hands, because will be caused him "bad eye". b) If a
baby no longer suckles, and is given to suckle again, when he grows will
transmit "bad eye", and
will be necessary to take care of him. c) To
avoid "bad eye" it is necessary to put on a bag salt, pepper, and
pieces of clay of the oven. |
Bed |
Eight days after
a person dies, should not be passed around his bed, because the soul returns
to visit the sick person. |
Boy |
a) If
one places a child recently born with the face toward the wall, will have a
yellow face. b) When
one fears a boy will have "bad eyes", is necessary to place on boy's neck a tape with mouse eyes c) Clothes
of a recently born , internal side
should not be turned to wash. d) To a
recently born, should be placed religious book under his head to frighten bad
spirits. e) If a
small boy dies, he should not be taken out the house through the door but
through the window (so this is last time it happens) f)
To a shy boy, is necessary to sell him
(symbolically), to a woman that already raised her children. (An old Jewish
woman told : she sold her son for three " groshen " to another
Jewish woman, and this boy lived more years than others). g) What
is thrown to a pregnant, her son will enjoy
h) A boy
that is born of elder parents, first 6 years should be dressed with canvas
clothes. The same thing should be proceeded with a shy boy (in the town was
dressed this way a boy until 8 years old, but he had shame to get dressed in
white, and for that reason was tinted all his clothes) i)
A baby is not grabbed from behind but
from before. j)
At night should not be hanged boy's
clothes, since they will be taken by bad spirits k) The
first son after 10 years of marriage, should sleep one year in the
cradle. l)
Before grows to a baby, the moon should
not be shown to him m) Before
teeth is one year old, should not be shown to a baby a mirror, since the
teeth will grow him difficulty |
Braided bread |
a) When
is left braided bread mass to bake, a
piece should be thrown and burned in
the oven. When moving away the burnt piece it should not be thrown to
street. A pig or a dog can eat it,
and somebody of the family will become of a different religion. b) When
moving away a piece of mass used to make braided bread it is said: Braided
bread I will take On
the fire I will burn it It
will stay in fire Before
the celestial throne I will put it |
Bread |
Crumbs of bread
should not be thrown, because goes away home sustenance |
By night |
a) If
water is thrown at night, should be said three time "take care, I throw
water" (to frighten ghosts) b) If
one goes at night on a road, he
should not turn his head (he is pursued by ghosts) c) If
one passes at night in front of a synagogue, or in front of a destroyed
house, and listens that is called by his name, should not answer. If answers,
is caught by bad spirits. |
Candles |
It should not be
put candles on the floor. This is
done when there is a deceased |
Cemetery |
a) It
should not be returned home of the cemetery after a funeral, by same way used
to go to it (a death angel continues
being in the road by which passed the retinue). b) If
one returns of the cemetery, it is necessary to wash hands, and it is
necessary to put the pitcher with the base up. |
Cloth |
On Saturday
cannot be retired cloth of the table, because the hall doors of the hell will
open up |
Cradle |
a) In a
new cradle, before placing recently born, should be first be rocked a cat or
a hen. b) An
empty cradle should not be rocked since will headache the baby (other say
that the baby will die). |
Cursing |
It should not be
shaken feet, because one curses parents. |
Cutting wood |
Cut firewood on
the threshold is not owed , because you can break family sustenance |
Deceased relative |
The relative of
a deceased should not be left alone in the street, until after deceased's funeral. |
Deceased |
a)
Until third earth shovel, deceased
listen to crying people. b)
Water should be thrown to three houses
around which a cadaver lies |
Destroyed house |
To a destroyed
house should be moved away chimney and roof. |
Dream |
a) When
you wake up in the morning, look through the window and you will forget the
dream b) If
you place clothes of another person at evening on your bed, you will dream
about the person to whom that garment belongs |
Dress |
Two people
should not dress a boy at the same time (to a deceased, several people should
place the shroud). |
Drink |
It should not be
drunk before "kiddush" (sanctification of wine), because is drunk
water that belongs to parents in paradise. |
Dying person |
If a dying
person is put to bed on a hens feather cushion, he will have a painful death. |
Eating |
a) It
should not be eaten with two tablespoons, because with the second devil eats.
b) Two
utensils should not be used at the same time. |
Field measurement
|
"Measure a
field", refers to cases of serious illness. Procedure is as follows:
Some women go to cemetery, one holds a
wool ball in the apron, and the other walks around the cemetery.
Then threads are placed in a vessel
with wax, and candles are produced saying: I had
a mother called Tzeitele For
her soul I set fire a candle I
coil it long, long.. These candles
are given then to Bet Medresh |
Fingernails |
a) On
Thursdays should not be cut fingernails, because third day afterwards, on
Saturday, will grow again. (a Jewish old woman told that was annulled this
habit because on Thursday are lit logs to heat public bathes, and in that
moment fingernails were cut) b) long
fingernails should not be used, because bad spirits are under them, and they
drive people by bad roads. c) the
cutting of fingernails should not be thrown, because bad spirits will be
spread by the house. Another reason is that a pregnant can step them, and
abort for that reason. d) Should
not thrown fingernails because bad spirits pick up them again. |
FIRE |
Fire should not
be spit; grains will come out in tongue |
Frog |
A frog should
not be killed, since it will curse parents.
|
Garbage |
a) At
evening garbage should not be thrown b) When
somebody leaves for a trip, the house is not swept; if it is swept is considered as if he would be tossed from
house c) When
a deceased is taken, the house is swept and garbage is thrown d) If a neighbor gets angry with the house owner, he sweeps the whole house and
all garbage is taken out, so the house is empty. e) If
one throws garbage to a pregnant, the body of the recently born will have
scabies. |
Goat |
When a goat is
to die, should be thrown salt on three bridges. |
Grains |
If somebody
steps purified water, will have
grains. |
Gravediggers
|
a) A
gravedigger should not enter alone a house. A dislike grimace should be made.
b) A
gravedigger should not be said "have a good year", " good
night ", etc. |
Growth |
a) If
somebody passes through a window, doesn't grow b) If
one passes over the feet of a person, that person doesn't grow. |
Head |
a) Clothes
should not be placed in bed head , because the person will have bad dreams b) A
person should not be standing next to
the head of a sick person, because there is death angel |
Hen |
a) If a
hen puts an egg at evening should not be looked , because it can get blind
sickness. b) If
you bring a new hen to the house, in order it doesn't forget the place, is
necessary to cut it's line and to push it to give three turns around the
table. Then it may go |
Hiccup |
If one has
hiccup, is necessary to pull him up a lash, then is known who speaks of him. |
Horses |
Should not be
passed where horses tumble. If you do, warts will grow you. |
Housing |
Who enters a new
housing should bring bread and salt. |
Knife |
When blessing, a
knife should not be placed in front of the eyes (because when blessing, the
person can get excited when he names Jerusalem , may grab the knife, and
something bad may happen). |
Meat |
When the meat is
salted, should be lit two lights (a candle and a lamp) and it should be said:
"where I didn't salt, should do it the good angels." |
Mirror |
It should not be
place down the mirror (is put this way when there is a deceased) |
Money |
It should be put
a coin in the base of a house, since it gives luck. |
Moon |
a) A
small boy should not sleep in front of the moon. b) A
pregnant woman should not sleep in front of the moon. If she does it and her
stomach is uncovered, the child can be a moonstruck. |
Moonstruck |
A wet cloth
should be placed next to the bed. When the person gets off the bed, steps on the cloth and wakes up.
|
Mouthful |
Last mouthful
should not be left, because later he will be hungry. |
Onion |
During Saturdays
is eaten onion, in allusion to seven skin that recover it, which symbolize
the seven days of the week. The head of the onion should not be eaten, since
it harms the memory. The same thing with the radish. |
Parturient |
A parturient
with childbirth difficulties, should be tied from her bed until the ark of
Torah rolls in Bet Medresh. After childbirth, she should not be left alone at
evening for four weeks. She may leave during afternoon, after 8 days. (in the
year 1929 happened real facts according to which pregnant women were
kidnapped). |
Pillow |
When you full
with feathers a new cushion, are placed small in it parts of sugar (to sweeten the life). |
Poppy seeds |
Place poppy
seeds under the pillow of a sick person. It will cure him |
Pregnant |
a) A pregnant should not cross alone a bridge
or a puddle of water b) When
a pregnant gets scared and places a hand on a part of her body, the baby will
have stains in same place of the body
c) The
same thing that the above-mentioned, if she is scared by a fire d) A
pregnant should not step the reins of a cart, because during childbirth might
wind the umbilical cord to the neck of the baby e) If is
thrown water to a pregnant, the boy will like to play with water. f)
If is thrown embers to a pregnant, the
boy will have burning grains. g) If a
pregnant crosses a threshold, and is hit a blow to the threshold, the baby
will have a broken lip. If she turns,
and did not pay attention, nothing will happen to the child. h) A
pregnant should not fix clothes ruined by mice, since if does it, her milk
will fail. (a Jewish old woman told it happened to her sister-in-law) i)
To a pregnant should not be denied
things that she requests borrowed, because rats will destroy those things. |
Priest |
If one sees a
priest passing, should unfasten a button. If one proceeds this way, won't
lose anything. |
Psalm verses
|
These
inscriptions are hung in parturient house, but only where wicked spirits can
enter (doors, windows, oven). |
Purified water |
Water
thrown on the cadaver of a religious
man, has healing powers. With this purified water wounds are washed to a sick person, also sick legs of a boy
that cannot walk (purified water thrown on the cadaver of a old Pruzhany
Rabbi , caused a great commotion in the city, and there were discussions and
fights). |
Rainbow |
It should not be
shown a rainbow to somebody, because who see it is a sinner, and who does not
see it is a fair person. If it was something accidental, he should bite a
finger. |
Rat |
a) Should
not be spit a dead rat; it will come at night and will gnaw clothes b) they should not be cursed because they multiply themselves c) Should
not be entered a neighbor's house
with food in the mouth, because it will bring rats |
Roof beam |
The ceiling
should have an odd quantity of beams, it will be a sign of luck. |
Rooster |
When the rooster
cackles, ghosts escape. |
Saturday night
|
a) On
Saturday night a clean shirt should not be dressed (because then dead were
buried) b) It
should not be sewn then; may die soon
c) If
you bring water on Saturday night, you should pour three times a little; this is called "Miram's
water" d) Saturday
night before " Havdala " water should not be drunk, because souls
are soaked in water. If somebody
drinks it, and is not left enough for souls, then is said to souls: "go,
go, your son already drank the water" |
Sew |
Do not sew a
button if a person uses that garment, because is also sewn his intelligence.
If is already done the person should chew a thread. (an old Jewish woman
tells that a pregnant sewed a hook on
a garment while using it, and the recently born had the lip bind to the gums,
and seemed a hook) |
Shoes |
When a person
uses a pair of shoes for the first time, should not be said: " Good
health for using them for the first time", because some people say that
he could be feel offended. Others say: "it is a compassion expression
for animals, because shoes are made of leather of an animal that lived, and
this way is offended G-d's creation. |
Shroud |
When children
cry for their mother's death, shrouds become moist. |
Sleeping |
Should not be
slept with feet toward door, because deceased are placed this way . |
Snow |
If you anoint
your face with first snow, it will be white whole year, and you won't be
afraid of freezing. |
Splitting |
If one spits
another person, removes his sins. |
Stockings |
It should not be
walked in stockings by house, except
for bereavement days. |
Stretcher for deceased's transport |
After a funeral,
the stretcher should be shaken three times (some break it, take out a nail or
they cut a piece) so that there is no any more deaths and there is not need
to use it again. |
Sweep |
A house should
not be swept at the same time with two brooms, because only when happens a
death is cleaned this way, and will have rats in the house. |
Teeth |
a) Small
children should not eat fish neither eggs, because will grow him teeth slowly
(some say, eat fish harms
language). b) If
you eat something gnawed by mice you will have healthy teeth. |
Thunder |
a) If
you fear thunders, eat bread with mold. If you eat bread with mold, you won't
fear thunders. b) If it
thunders, is necessary to put a stick in the chimney |
Tooth |
When a tooth
falls, should be said three times: "small rat, small rat, I give you a
bone tooth, give me a iron one" |
Visit |
If a boy comes
for the first time to visit to a house, it should be well treated with sugar.
|
Water |
a) It
should not be allowed to boil a pot of water without putting something
inside, at least some salt. If not,
it will cause a fight. b) Some
people say that if there is a deceased, it is necessary to boil only water. |
Water well |
During evenings,
water of well should not be taken out, because inside the well ghosts dance |
Wedding |
At evening the
word wedding should not be pronounced (at night are carried out ghosts
weddings). |
Whistle |
a) Should
not be whistled in a house because
poverty may whistle b) Should
not be whistled at night, because are called bad spirits (in general should
not be whistled) |
Wound |
It is not
necessary to be surprised for a wound ("bad eyes" fear ). |