ГОУ лицей № 1548

Исследовательская работа по английскому языку.

Тема: Popular beliefs and superstitions in Britain and in Russia

Работу выполнял: Яковенко Александр

2010 год

ContentsContents

1) Introduction (page 3)1) Introduction (page 3)2) Main part (page 4)2) Main part (page 4)3) Popular beliefs and superstitions in Great Britain3) Popular beliefs and superstitions in Great Britain a) Good luck (page 5)a) Good luck (page 5) b) Bad luck (page 5)b) Bad luck (page 5) c) Food superstitions (page 5-6)c) Food superstitions (page 5-6) d) Animal superstitions (page 6-7)d) Animal superstitions (page 6-7) e) Wedding superstitions (page 7)e) Wedding superstitions (page 7) f) Funny novels (page 7-8)f) Funny novels (page 7-8)4) Russian superstitions and popular beliefs (page 10)4) Russian superstitions and popular beliefs (page 10)a) Common superstitions (page 12)a) Common superstitions (page 12) b) Different superstitions (page 13)b) Different superstitions (page 13)Conclusion (page 14)Conclusion (page 14)

Main partMain partSuperstitionSuperstition-idea or belief held by many people for no good or logical reason: -idea or belief held by many people for no good or logical reason: It is It is just a superstition that you should not walk under laddersjust a superstition that you should not walk under ladders .. Superstition-Superstition- (idea, practice, etc., based on the) belief that certain events cannot be (idea, practice, etc., based on the) belief that certain events cannot be explained by human reason or physical laws; irrational fear of what is unknown or explained by human reason or physical laws; irrational fear of what is unknown or mysterious: mysterious: Ignorance and superstition prevent them from benefiting from modern Ignorance and superstition prevent them from benefiting from modern medicine.medicine. People believe in different things. Our beliefs depend on our character, background People believe in different things. Our beliefs depend on our character, background experience.experience.Some people believe in the supernatural, other believe only in things that can be Some people believe in the supernatural, other believe only in things that can be proved.proved.Quite a number of people believe that all events in our lives are predetermined by Quite a number of people believe that all events in our lives are predetermined by fate.fate.Different people believe in different things. They believe in reincarnation or love at Different people believe in different things. They believe in reincarnation or love at first sight, in UFOs or in horoscopes.first sight, in UFOs or in horoscopes.Superstitions are much more numerous today than it is supposed.Superstitions are much more numerous today than it is supposed.They are found not only among the foolish or the uneducated. There was a large They are found not only among the foolish or the uneducated. There was a large scale survey in England which covered a number of superstitious beliefs and scale survey in England which covered a number of superstitious beliefs and practices. It was found that one person in six believe in ghosts. At least one person in practices. It was found that one person in six believe in ghosts. At least one person in ten feels that they have lucky days or numbersten feels that they have lucky days or numbers

Popular beliefs and superstitions in Popular beliefs and superstitions in Great BritainGreat Britain

Food superstitionsFood superstitions

Animal superstitions Animal superstitions

Wedding superstitions Wedding superstitions

Good luckGood luck

Bad luckBad luck

Food SuperstitionsFood SuperstitionsWhen finished eating a When finished eating a boiled eggboiled egg, , push the spoon through the bottom of push the spoon through the bottom of the empty shell to let the devil out the empty shell to let the devil out Once at the table, there were Once at the table, there were numerous other things to watch out numerous other things to watch out for.  The best known of course is not to for.  The best known of course is not to have 13 people at the table, and have 13 people at the table, and should someone spill the salt, a pinch should someone spill the salt, a pinch had to be thrown over the left shoulder had to be thrown over the left shoulder into the eyes of the Devil.   Crossed into the eyes of the Devil.   Crossed knives at the table signify a quarrel, knives at the table signify a quarrel, while a white tablecloth left on a table while a white tablecloth left on a table overnight means the household will overnight means the household will need a shroud in the near future.need a shroud in the near future.Two women must not pour from the Two women must not pour from the same tea-pot, if they do, a quarrel will same tea-pot, if they do, a quarrel will ensue.  In Somerset a double-yolked ensue.  In Somerset a double-yolked egg was viewed with concern as it egg was viewed with concern as it foretold of a hurried wedding due to a foretold of a hurried wedding due to a pregnancypregnancy

Animal SuperstitionsAnimal SuperstitionsAnimals feature a lot in British Animals feature a lot in British superstitions as they do in superstitions as they do in superstitions around the world.superstitions around the world.One ancient British superstition tells One ancient British superstition tells that if a child rides on a that if a child rides on a bearbear's back it 's back it will be protected from whooping-will be protected from whooping-cough. (Bears used to roam Britain but cough. (Bears used to roam Britain but now they are not seen on our shores)now they are not seen on our shores)In some parts of the UK meeting two In some parts of the UK meeting two or threeor three RavensRavens together is considered together is considered really bad. One very English really bad. One very English superstition concerns the tame Ravens superstition concerns the tame Ravens at the Tower of Londonat the Tower of London.. It is believed if It is believed if they leave then the crown of England they leave then the crown of England will be lost. will be lost. It is said to be badluck if you see It is said to be badluck if you see batsbats flying and hear their cries. In the flying and hear their cries. In the middle ages it was believed that middle ages it was believed that witches were closely associated with witches were closely associated with bats. bats.

Wedding superstitions in BritainWedding superstitions in Britain

1)A superstitious bride is not 1)A superstitious bride is not supposed to wear the whole of supposed to wear the whole of her bridal arrayher bridal array2)A superstitious bride does 2)A superstitious bride does her best not to see herself fully her best not to see herself fully prepared for the weddingprepared for the wedding3)On the morning of the 3)On the morning of the wedding day it is advisable for wedding day it is advisable for the bride and groom not to the bride and groom not to meetmeet4)On the way to the wedding 4)On the way to the wedding seeing a rainbow is luckyseeing a rainbow is lucky5)On the way to the wedding 5)On the way to the wedding seeing a pig unluckyseeing a pig unlucky

Good luckGood luckLucky to meet aLucky to meet a black cat. Black black cat. Black Cats are featured on many good Cats are featured on many good luck greetings cards and birthday luck greetings cards and birthday cards in England. cards in England. Lucky to touch woodLucky to touch wood ..Lucky to find a Lucky to find a clover plant with four clover plant with four leavesleaves..A A horseshoehorseshoe over the door brings over the door brings good luck. But the horse shoe needs good luck. But the horse shoe needs to be the right way up. The luck runs to be the right way up. The luck runs out of the horse shoe if it is upside out of the horse shoe if it is upside down.down.On the first day of the month it is On the first day of the month it is lucky to say “white rabbitslucky to say “white rabbits,, white white rabbitsrabbits, , white rabbits," before white rabbits," before uttering your first word of the day. uttering your first word of the day. Catch falling leaves in AutumnCatch falling leaves in Autumn and and you're have good luck. Every leaf you're have good luck. Every leaf means a lucky month next year.means a lucky month next year.

BadBad Luck LuckUnlucky to walk underneath aUnlucky to walk underneath a ladderladderSeven years bad luck to Seven years bad luck to break a break a mirrormirror..Unlucky to Unlucky to see one magpiesee one magpie, lucky to , lucky to see two, etc..see two, etc..Unlucky to Unlucky to spill saltspill salt. If you do, you . If you do, you must throw it over your shoulder to must throw it over your shoulder to counteract the bad luck.counteract the bad luck.Unlucky to Unlucky to open an umbrella in open an umbrella in doorsdoors..The number thirteen is unluckyThe number thirteen is unlucky. . Friday the thirteenth is a very Friday the thirteenth is a very unlucky day. Friday is considered to unlucky day. Friday is considered to be an unlucky day because Jesus be an unlucky day because Jesus was crucified on a Friday. was crucified on a Friday. Unlucky to put Unlucky to put new shoes on the new shoes on the tabletable. . Unlucky to Unlucky to pass someone on the pass someone on the stairs stairs

Russian superstitions and Russian superstitions and popular beliefspopular beliefs

What is a “Russian superstition”? It is What is a “Russian superstition”? It is something that Russian people do or avoid something that Russian people do or avoid doing in their everyday life out of fear that doing in their everyday life out of fear that something bad will happen. something bad will happen. For example, people do not whistle indoors, For example, people do not whistle indoors, because they might lose all their money, if because they might lose all their money, if they do. If a Russian person meets a they do. If a Russian person meets a woman with an empty bucket after leaving woman with an empty bucket after leaving the house, he will pinch a button on his shirt the house, he will pinch a button on his shirt between his fingers and bite on his tongue between his fingers and bite on his tongue in order to avoid bad luck. in order to avoid bad luck. If a Russian loses something in the house, If a Russian loses something in the house, he usually addresses he usually addresses domovoj,domovoj, an an imaginary creature that supposedly lives in imaginary creature that supposedly lives in every house, with words “every house, with words “domovojdomovoj, you , you have played enough; give it back to me have played enough; give it back to me now”. After that, most people find the now”. After that, most people find the missing thing. missing thing. The list of popular Russian superstitions can The list of popular Russian superstitions can go on and on. They encompass every go on and on. They encompass every aspect of life from birth until death and are aspect of life from birth until death and are widely spread not only in the rural areas of widely spread not only in the rural areas of Russia, but also in big metropolitan cities Russia, but also in big metropolitan cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. like Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Popular beliefs in RussiaPopular beliefs in RussiaIf anyone says that something bad If anyone says that something bad might happen, touch the wood to might happen, touch the wood to ward off evil spiritsward off evil spirits If your ears or cheeks are hot, If your ears or cheeks are hot, someone is thinking or talking someone is thinking or talking about youabout you If you see a shooting star, your If you see a shooting star, your wish will come truewish will come true A young woman can't sit at the A young woman can't sit at the corner of the table or she won't get corner of the table or she won't get marriedmarried Always give a woman an odd Always give a woman an odd number of flowers. Even numbers number of flowers. Even numbers are used for funerals.are used for funerals.If a fork or spoon falls on the If a fork or spoon falls on the ground, expect a female guest. If ground, expect a female guest. If a knife falls, expect a male guesta knife falls, expect a male guest

Common superstitionsCommon superstitions

Friday 13-unlucky dayFriday 13-unlucky day

Lucky to touch woodLucky to touch wood

A horseshoeA horseshoe over the door brings good luckover the door brings good luck

Break a mirror-unluckyBreak a mirror-unlucky

On the morning of the wedding day it is On the morning of the wedding day it is advisable for the bride and groom not to meetadvisable for the bride and groom not to meet

Don't whistle indoors - you are whistling away Don't whistle indoors - you are whistling away your moneyyour money

Different SuperstitionsDifferent Superstitions

RussiaRussia- It is unlucky to see - It is unlucky to see a black cat crossing a black cat crossing

your path.your path.

- - On the way to the On the way to the wedding seeng a wedding seeng a

black cat is unlucky.black cat is unlucky.

- - For a long period For a long period of time bad luck to of time bad luck to

break a mirrorbreak a mirror..

Great BritainGreat Britain - Lucky to meet a- Lucky to meet a black catblack cat. Black . Black Cats are featured on Cats are featured on many good luck many good luck greetings cards and greetings cards and birthday cards.birthday cards.

-On the way to the -On the way to the wedding seeing a pig wedding seeing a pig unlucky.unlucky.

-Seven years bad -Seven years bad luck to break a luck to break a

mirror.mirror.

ConclusionConclusion

Are we really fully enlightened, having left superstitions Are we really fully enlightened, having left superstitions behind? I think the discussion of this subject will leave no behind? I think the discussion of this subject will leave no doubt that the answer must be ‘no’, because doubt that the answer must be ‘no’, because superstitions are still very much with us, and it is even superstitions are still very much with us, and it is even possible that some forms of them may be on the possible that some forms of them may be on the increase.increase.

Long history of the superstitions makes interesting to Long history of the superstitions makes interesting to study them. But as it is clear from these superstitions, to study them. But as it is clear from these superstitions, to believe in them too deeply, as some do, and allow them believe in them too deeply, as some do, and allow them to prey upon the mind is foolish. But understanding them to prey upon the mind is foolish. But understanding them and searching for their true meanings and origins gives and searching for their true meanings and origins gives us a deeper knowledge of human nature.us a deeper knowledge of human nature.

As for me, in some superstitions I believe. For example: As for me, in some superstitions I believe. For example: In black cat, in Friday 13 and whistling indoors.In black cat, in Friday 13 and whistling indoors.