There are many signs associated with the funeral and the dead. Most of them are respected to this day, because no one wants to incur trouble or prevent the soul of the deceased from quietly moving into another world. Folk signs and superstitions associated with the funeral are sometimes strictly observed even by those people who in everyday life do not believe in the higher powers and immortality of the human soul.
Signs foreshadowing imminent death
In Russia, it is customary to associate the souls of the dead with birds and animals. It is believed that the soul of a close relative is able to transform into a bird or into an animal that, as it were, warns the living members of their family about an impending disaster. If the bird sat on the windowsill and knocks on the window - then, wait for bad news about the death or serious illness of a person close to you. Also, people in Russia believe that after death, the soul of the deceased can enter the body of a dog or cat and come to his home to stay at least a little longer with his family.
If a seriously ill person is in the house and even during his life facial features began to sharpen and his nose became cold, then this means that he will soon die. It is believed that Death came very close to him and pulls his nose into the other world.
A sharp sign is also considered a sharp improvement in the health of the dying. As they say: "Before death, the patient became easier." There are many cases when a practically dying person literally a day before his death felt relieved, he even developed an appetite, and he began to move around the house on his own. However, he became very ill at night, and he was dying.
Another sign that portends a quick death: if a dying person suddenly starts to tremble, then it is believed that Death herself begins to look into his eyes.
If the patient begins to collect sheets in a fist or make such movements as if he were collecting something from his body (people say “he’s robbing himself”), then these signs also portend his imminent death.
Funeral Attributes
If a person dies in the house, then everything there immediately needs to be hung all the mirrors. It is believed that the soul of the deceased can accidentally fall into the looking glass, where there is no way out. Mirrors are kept hanging for forty days. After this period, the soul of the deceased finally passes into the afterlife and the mirrors can already be opened. There are many charming stories that tell about what can happen if you do not observe this ritual. Oddly enough, for the most part, even inveterate atheists still hang mirrors if someone close to them dies in their house.
In the room where there is a coffin with the body of the deceased, all doors and windows are closed and pets are not allowed into this room. If the cat jumps onto the coffin with the body, then this is considered a very bad sign, and the dog with its barking and howling is able to frighten the soul of the deceased, who for three days after death is next to his lifeless body.
Within forty days after death, a cup of water is placed in the house of the deceased, and a towel of cotton cloth is hung outside. It is believed that the soul comes into the house, drinks water and wiped it with a towel. There are many cases when the water in a cup left overnight miraculously disappeared.
It is considered a very bad sign if the dead person's eye is suddenly opened. People say that soon in this family there will be another death. It is as if the dead man is looking for a fellow traveler to the other world.
Signs related to the coffin and things of the deceased
Do not hammer the coffin lid in the house. This may portend another death. After the coffin was taken out of the house, it is necessary to sweep and mop the floors, after washing the broom, rags and bucket should be thrown away. It is believed that in a similar way, death is washed out from all angles. This superstition is firmly connected with another sign: when someone goes on a business trip or on a trip, it is recommended, on the contrary, not to wash and sweep the floors during the day.
If it turned out that the coffin was large for the deceased, then we should expect another death in the near future.
Relatives accidentally bought extra items for the funeral ritual - this is also a very bad omen. In no case should such things be left at home - they must be put in a coffin to the deceased so that he takes them with him to the grave.
Signs related to the cemetery and grave
It happens that the coffin does not fit in the dug grave. This sign indicates that someone else will die in the near future. They also say: "the earth does not accept it." There was such a case when the deceased bequeathed to bury him next to his parents, but, for a number of reasons, the relatives could not fulfill this last wish of a deceased loved one. He was buried in a new cemetery, where the graves were dug up using special equipment. When the funeral procession arrived at the cemetery, it turned out that the grave was small for the coffin, and the grave diggers had to expand it manually. Relatives of the deceased then discussed this incident for a long time and blamed themselves for not being able to fulfill the last will of their deceased relative.
It is also bad if the grave begins to collapse. This can also mean another death in the house.
What to do if you meet a funeral procession
If you walk along the street and met a funeral procession, then categorically you can’t cross her path. Also, you can’t drive a hearse on a car. Taxi drivers and professional drivers very much believe in this sign.
You cannot watch the funeral from the window. If a coffin is carried past the windows, it is best to wake all sleeping at that moment, household members. It is believed that the deceased can take with them all those who are sleeping at this moment.
