Superstitions Are Silly

“Superstitions are for the weak of heart, they make you think you’re finished without even having to start…circumstances are the closest thing to luck, the trick is to keep on moving. Whatever you do, don’t get stuck.” So says Mr. Ian Hanawalt.

Russians have a lot of superstitions, and like all superstitions they don’t make one bit of sense. I enjoy superstition though, as long as it doesn’t impede progress or anything, because it is a relic of a primitive mindset where arbitrary actions are attached significance. Superstitious behavior satisfies an obsessive-compulsive tendency in human beings in a relatively harmless way. I like to play along!
I’ll relate a few uniquely Russian superstitions that I have encountered. When pouring a drink, always set the glass down on a table. When pouring a round of drinks, always have one person pour for everyone. When drinking, the first shot must be followed by a third shot (which, of course, necessitates a second shot). When drinking, always wait for a toast before you take your shot. When drinking, always finish your shot in one gulp. Of course, all of these superstitions have been related to us out of context- we certainly wouldn’t be consuming alcohol.
When describing a physical deformity, never show it on yourself. I was talking to Katya and Alisa about a guy I saw with no hands, and when I crinkled up my fingers to show them they both reacted immediately! The superstition holds that showing it on yourself will bring it upon you (but apparently it doesn’t apply in some circumstances like if a girl says “her breasts were way out to here!”).
When sitting between two people of the same namesake, one is granted a wish. This one is good for us because we have three Max’s in our group.
If someone itches their nose, you’re supposed to punch them.
I’m always being called out because I whistle: “whistling money away.”
When people are getting married the guests call out some word that translates into “bitter,” and the groom will kiss his bride while everyone counts. However high they count is supposed to be the number of years they’ll be married.
There are plenty of opportunities to make wishes. On Red Square there are several places to make a wish, but usually you have to throw money or something first.
In the metro station Плошадь Революции, there are bronze statues. All of the extremities of the statue are rub-polished because rubbing them is good luck, of course!