Talk:Russian traditions and superstitions

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Contents 1 Post #1 2 Hiccups 3 Traditions conserning dringking vodka and other alcohol 4 Question and a Comment 5 Citation needed

[edit] Post #1

This article needs some attention. 1) I have modified the item about flowers since it was all upside down really. In Russia, even number of flowers is for the dead, and odd number is for the living. Therefore flower vendors always stock bouquets with odd numbers, even if it's 501 or 1001 flowers. 2) The "folk medicine" section is, I suppose, totally redundant in its present state. First, it doesn't really say a word about folk medicine. Second, it seems to serve only to promote the author's own opinion on hygiene. Basically, the theory of incurring (various) diseases due to hypothermia has at least some merit, as empirically proven by generations of people living in colder climes. Also, the basic physical fact that heat transfer is facilitated by contact of surfaces is in this article discarded as superstition, which strikes me as odd. I didn't remove the section since it's a large chunk, and I don't want to anonymously upset the author. But please consider rewriting it or removing it altogether. Perhaps it deserves its own article in a general "Folk medicine" group or something. 3) The part about not leaving vodka in a bottle is either simple bravado or a description of common, international, alcoholism. Even most alcoholics are wise enough to save some alcohol for hangover relief in the morning. 4) I know of only _one_ country where it IS polite to put your feet along with the shoes upon furniture. Perhaps this is not the norm, after all.

In other respects, the article does have a lot of valid points. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.131.179.43 (talk • contribs) 16:48, 24 September 2006

I know my boyfriend, who is familiar with very similar opinions of Italians about being wet & cold, considers the hypothermia-related beliefs as superstitions. I agree, then, that it seems like it may be an American thing (not to believe in such things). He thinks those beliefs are completely unscientific, so, to prove him & such people wrong, I think we need to find some citeable sources, either in English or in Russian. Red Plum 21:08, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

OK, please review my edits. I included one source that shows mild hypothermia inhibits immune response. I think another one is needed to prove/disprove the efficacy of banki & gorchichniki treatments.Red Plum 21:45, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Hiccups

"If you have the hiccups, someone is either just talking about you or talking bad about you."

I've always heard that it means that someone is thinking about you (my family is from the Moscow area, for what it's worth). Should I add this in? Esn 06:37, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

Yes. That's what I know either. thinking or to say better remembering you. I will change this in the article. (I am also from Russia. City: Barnaul) 212.94.104.111 05:26, 5 June 2007 (UTC)Artem

[edit] Traditions conserning dringking vodka and other alcohol

Actually it's not true that Refusing to drink vodka may sometimes be considered rude. People will understand you if you don't drink because of troubles with your health or you beliefs or something else. Even on funerals... You can drink something non-alcoholic instead. The same is with You should never go to someone else's house empty handed. It is most of the time ok just to come without anything, but it is also very common to take something (Alcoholic beverages and/or dessert) with you, especially when you go on some party or you come uninvited. P.S.: All I wrote here are my private thoughts based on my experience. 212.94.104.111 05:47, 5 June 2007 (UTC)Artem

[edit] Question and a Comment

Do Russians have the butter superstition where it is regarded as bad luck to cut the butter from different sides?

As for the great cold debate. I usually go in to see my doctor saying "Ah got, achoo, the nasty thing when Ah got wet and/or cold..." And my doctor keeps telling me that colds are caused by virus, blah blah blah. I finally got mad and asked him if I could be allergic to the cold. To my surprise, he said maybe, and asked me if I get headaches when I eat ice cream. I told him that I don't eat anything cold because it hurts my teeth and then my nose runs. Then he told me about "Ice Cream Headaches" and I thought he was pulling my leg until I looked it up on the web myself.

The point of this is that maybe some of us aren't getting colds or flu at all when we "take a chill". Maybe it's simply a stronger physical reaction than what most people have to being cold itself. 71.36.184.64 11:03, 8 June 2007 (UTC) Arizona Sunbird

Colds inhibit immune response. This is a scientific fact. So yes indeed, getting yourself wet and cold will increase your chances of catching a cold virus.

[edit] Citation needed

Without inline citations, this "article" is just a grab-bag of hearsay and nonsense. References please. Jonathan Oldenbuck 17:31, 30 November 2007 (UTC)