Bath or kitchen towels are one of the most commonly used items in the home. In addition to the main task, harmoniously and skillfully selected, they can also perform a decorative function, decorating and complementing the interior of the bathroom and kitchen.
Knowing how often they have to change kitchen or bath towels, women stock up on them for future use and give them to close friends, grandmothers and mothers for the holidays. However, there is an opinion that it is better not to use towels as a gift. Let's find out why.
Why a towel is a bad gift, signs
Despite the fact that this is the 21st century, many people still live in captivity of superstitions and signs that do not allow them to perform certain actions, since they can lead to bad consequences. However, almost no one knows what their essence is.
History of superstition
Most modern signs, traditions and rituals originate from the times of Ancient Rus'. So the signs associated with the use of towels have survived to this day, and almost all of them are sad.
Previously, they were presented as a gift to people who helped lower the coffin with a deceased person into the burial pit. The fabric was cut into pieces and distributed to the participants of the farewell ceremony.
Important! Nowadays, ordinary cloth (ropes) are used to carry and place the coffin in the pit, which are thrown into the grave. Towels are used extremely rarely for these purposes and they are not given to people. If someone is offered to take them for themselves in memory of the deceased, this is done with malicious intent.
In addition, towels were tied to the door of a house in which someone died. A white kitchen towel or napkin tied on the fence also indicated a misfortune of this kind. Everyone who passed by and noticed the white cloth on the logs knew that there was a funeral in the house.
Previously, there was a custom in which women personally embroidered large towels for their sons or husbands. They were gifted with them during sad events - if the one who prepared him died.
Remembering and knowing how and under what circumstances towels were used, people avoid giving or receiving them as gifts. This is especially true for used textiles that are not in their original packaging.
Signs and long traditions
The following signs regarding towels have survived to this day:
- If you step on the fabric that was used to carry the coffin, you can damage yourself.
- A towel or scarf given by a woman to a man and, conversely, brings separation to the couple.
- You should not hit someone with a towel, even as a joke - this can provoke the development of illnesses and poor health.
- The fabric used in the baptismal ceremony (kryzhma) cannot be thrown away.After the ceremony, it must be stored in the form in which it is (even dirty) and, as necessary, used for treatment and calming the child.
- According to tradition, the girl must prepare wedding towels (towels decorated with embroidery and various images) herself. After the wedding and wedding ceremony, towels are taken into the house and kept by the newlyweds: they are hung on icons and passed on as a family heirloom. Wedding towels cannot be reused.
- Bread and salt are brought out to guests on a snow-white towel, thereby showing that the owners are happy to see them.
As can be seen from the signs described above, the use of towels for other purposes is not always associated with something sad and bad. However, there is a type of people who religiously follow and revere ancient traditions, for whom bath or kitchen items presented as gifts can become a kind of “black mark”. In this case, you can make a joke deal with the recipient - demand a symbolic monetary payment for the gift. This way you can neutralize the negative impact.
Modern attitude to such a gift
No matter how superstitious the towels presented as gifts may be, in modern society it is not customary to give them according to the rules of etiquette. The fact is that they are considered personal hygiene items, just like toothbrushes, combs or underwear. It is believed that such a gift, given even to the closest and dearest person, can put him in an awkward position.
Believing or not in omens is a personal matter for everyone.However, when thinking about this or that superstition associated with gifts, you should remember that first of all, attention is important and even a gifted towel, if it is really useful to the “hero of the occasion,” can become a real pleasant surprise.
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