Why was wool added to the foundation in the old days? Why is elderberry dangerous for the future home? How to avoid being around grumpy people? The builders of the past knew the answers to these questions well.

The house, Slavic tradition dictates, must begin to be built on Tuesday or Thursday. These days were considered the best for its laying. With the advent of Christianity, another belief was superimposed on it: according to the calendar, these days were supposed to commemorate not the holy martyrs (otherwise the construction threatened to turn into unfinished), but the reverend elders (then everything should have gone without a hitch).

In folk tradition, Saturday was also considered favorable for the start of construction, but in our time the attitude of builders to this day has changed. "We never start new object on Saturday, says the head of the civilian team of finishing craftsmen Sergey Valov. — This is the very end of the working week, during which workers are very tired. And the first steps in the construction of a new facility are very important and inattention and negligence are not forgiven, because the success of the entire process and the final quality largely depend on them. At the very beginning of our work, we started construction several times on Saturday, and this later turned out to be a backfire for us - we had to redo a lot of things all over again. So now we move to the facility only after proper rest.”

Winter was considered the most optimal time of year for procuring building materials for a home. The Slavs believed that at this time the soul of the tree is asleep, so it will not feel the pain of the ax. If a tree is cut down at another time of the year, then it will certainly retain the memory of this event, become “evil”, and, therefore, at one point it will “take revenge” on the residents in one way or another.

For construction itself in Rus', there was no better season than the period of Great Lent (ideally, also with the capture of Trinity Day). True, according to ethnographic researchers, they tried to maintain this condition not for any mystical or sacred reasons, but based solely on practical meaning. In the summer, experts on the issue clarify, there was simply no time for construction, as well as other matters not directly related to sowing and arable work, all forces were thrown into growing crops. It had to be collected in the fall, and after the holiday of the Intercession (before which, in fact, the harvesting work usually lasted), the cold weather was not far away. “Of course,” adds Moscow historian-ethnographer Vladimir Pivovarov, “this does not mean that previously in Rus' everything was built exclusively in the early spring. There were exceptions, we just tried to adhere to these deadlines whenever possible.”

As for the place for construction, in the old days they did not begin to build under any circumstances. residential buildings where burials were once carried out, mass executions or even a single murder took place. There was a strong opinion that in this case, soon after the housewarming, the owners of the house would begin to lose loved ones. For the same reason, wood cut down near burial grounds was not used in the process.

In addition, a number of other places were subject to the construction ban. For example, they did not build a house where elderberries grew in abundance (it was believed that farming in this place would be “bitter”), there were roads and paths (happiness will leave home with prosperity) or there were gates (all things would be done with “great creaking”) "). The presence of an anthill on the site of the future home was also considered as a powerful stopping factor; if it is neglected, then the new settlers will have to live side by side with angry and grumpy neighbors.

The most suitable locations were considered to be either virgin, uncultivated lands, or already well-developed and long-inhabited places on small hills. An example here is the Kremlin of Zaraysk near Moscow, where under the wall between the Nikolskaya and Karaulnaya towers, archaeologists discovered a site of ancient people of the Paleolithic era.

Relations with builders have always been built in the most complacent manner. Numerous literary sources testify that they tried to appease the carpenters even before starting work. In particular, the owner of the future house offered the employees a so-called “free-for-all” treat as soon as the preliminary “conditions of cooperation” were agreed upon. In the future, the construction customer had to set the generous table several more times. Firstly, upon laying the first lower crown of the future house (the so-called “backfill” or “cover”), secondly, when transferring the finished log house to the chosen location, and thirdly, when laying the matrix.

IN modern conditions The custom of repeatedly treating builders has not only become obsolete, but has also become its complete opposite. Most of the customers with whom the author of the material was able to talk on this topic even prefer to pay contractors only after all the agreed upon work has been completed and their quality has been thoroughly checked. Moreover, some also deduct the cost of electricity for heating the cabin (if construction occurs during the cold season) from the remuneration amount.

But, according to the testimony of many Russians, another custom of ancient times has been well preserved: adding some special elements to the foundation when pouring it. Of course, incense has not been thrown into the construction for a long time to repel evil spirits, freshly chopped chicken heads (an offering to the brownie) or pieces of wool (for extra warmth), but builders throw coins and banknotes of various denominations into the pits with enviable regularity.

Some other techniques of Slavic architects, although not so widely, have also survived to this day. For example, Andrey Volokhov, a representative of one of the many companies near Moscow offering construction services to the population wooden houses, says that their workers always lay the first two logs or beams exclusively along the lines of the future house, and not across. “I can’t say for sure,” says Andrey, “how long ago and why this principle has been professed in our company, but everyone knows for sure that it cannot be done otherwise, the life of the owners will be all “transverse”. For the same reason, we try to lay floors not parallel to the threshold, but perpendicular to it. True, now our customers make a choice in favor of a classic floorboard quite rarely, preferring OSB boards to it.”

Wooden construction in Rus' has always been accompanied by a lot of superstitions and traditions; we bring to your attention the most interesting of them. The choice of site for construction was given Special attention.

According to popular beliefs, a favorable place to build a house was the place where livestock likes to rest, where animals often lie, as well as a place already inhabited by someone. It was believed that it was impossible to build a house where there had previously been a bathhouse, a road, or a gate (the household would creak just like the gate). The disputed plot of land was also considered a bad place to build a house.

In order to find out how good the place was to build a house, a number of simple manipulations were carried out. After marking the site for the house, we knitted the first crown and dug holes for the posts. Then, into these very pits, the owner poured rye, “so that God would give life and life,” and then at night he put bread in each of the four corners and a glass of water. And if the next day the bread and water were found in the same form in which they were left, or if the water was still rising and overflowing the edge of the glass, this was considered a very good omen, and if the bread and water turned out to be overturned, then it was taken as a bad omen. sign. There was another way: in the place proposed for construction, they dug a small hole and placed a vessel with honey there: if ants appeared in it by morning, the chosen place can be considered quite successful.

Our ancestors associated some construction signs with the Orthodox faith: good luck will help in everything if you start building a house in Lent (early spring) and on the new moon, it is also good if the construction time frame covers the Trinity. They also believed that if you start building a house on the day dedicated to the martyr, you will not complete the construction, but if you start construction on the day dedicated to the memory of the saints, everything will be fine.
In addition, there were many different beliefs regarding the start of construction:

• construction should begin only on Tuesday or Thursday,
• stoves should be placed under the new moon - they will be warmer, but in no case on a waning moon,
• if a girl lays the first foundation in a house under construction, this house will always be warm in winter;
• the first two beams of the frame must be laid along the house, and then across, otherwise the life will be transverse;
• Coniferous branches should be placed at the base of the house to protect it from lightning;
• in the front corner, on the first masonry, you need to put money - for wealth in the new house, wool - for warmth, incense - for holiness and so that the brownie does not joke;
• until the first crown is laid, the craftsmen should not leave the place of work, they should not stick an ax into a log or hit it with a butt;

On the first day of work, the craftsmen cut down only one crown, and when leaving, they placed a small slice of bread on each corner. If by morning all the bread remained intact, then there will always be prosperity in the house under construction, and the house itself will happily stand for many years. If, when cutting the embryonic crown, the first chip flies inside the quadrangle, then all kinds of profit, luck and prosperity will come to the house. All the chips obtained when cutting the first crown must be collected in the middle of the quadrangle, so that what is happening outside is known in the house, but so that it is not known on the street what is happening at home. During construction, it was forbidden to place the pillars with their butts up - there would be no happiness, the livestock would be poorly managed. The floor in the house was laid only lengthwise, towards the threshold; it was believed that if it was laid differently, there would be no happiness in the house. If the carpenters and stove maker were poorly treated, then life in the house will be bad - “then he sings, then he knocks, then the brownie squeals in the chimney.” The house was not placed with windows or gates “at night”, that is, to the north. And when they installed the matitsa (that’s the name of the central beam on which the ceiling is laid), they baked pies and treated the carpenters to drinks.

After completing the construction of the house, the owner threw a consecrated egg over it, which had to be immediately buried at the site of its fall; it was believed that after this ritual, the wind would not tear off the roof. The new house was necessarily blessed by the priest, or at least every corner of the house was sprinkled with holy water from the church. Regarding moving to new house There were also many traditions and signs.

Before moving into a new house, a cat or rooster was allowed to spend the night. Protecting the house from the entry of evil spirits, the animal will show in the morning how the owners will live here: if the cat or rooster is cheerful, they will heal well, if not, they will heal poorly. It was believed that it was best to move to a new house on some holiday, and best of all at dawn - then the angels move along with the owners. But moving at sunset was strictly forbidden. Also important when moving was the phase of the moon and the day of the week. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday were considered unlucky for moving. It is best to enter a new home during the full moon. Traditionally, people entered the house for the first time with bread and salt. In addition, it was believed that all success in a new house would be greatly helped if, on the day of moving, exactly those objects for which the building was built were placed there, and extraneous objects were not allowed, such as pigs in a sheepfold, cows in a stable. , hay - into the barn, etc.

According to popular belief, the housewarming party itself should not be held on the actual day of relocation; it is necessary to wait at least three days. These are the Russians folk signs have reached our days. Some of them seem completely ridiculous, and some are observed during construction to this day. To believe or not to believe - that is the question...

CONSTRUCTION

Where to build a house

A hut cannot be built on a road or even a path, on an abandoned cemetery or a forgotten grave. If the house is not in place, something will always seem strange in it, and the residents will die.
Having measured the space for the house, they knit the first crown and then dig holes for! pillars The owner pours rye into these pits, “so that God gives life and life,” and then at night they put bread in each of the four corners and put a glass of water. This is done in order to find out whether the place where the new house is being built is happy. And if the next day bread and water are found in the same form in which they were left, or if the water still arrives and overflows over the edge of the glass, this is considered a very good omen, and if the bread and water turn out to be overturned, then this is a bad sign.
To test whether a given place is suitable or not for building a house, a vessel with honey is placed in a small dug hole overnight: if ants have appeared in it by morning, the chosen place can be considered quite successful.
A house cannot be built where there was a road or a bathhouse, or where animal bones were found, especially if they were human bones.
A disputed piece of land is considered an unlucky place to build a house.
If a house is placed in the place where the stove used to be, there will be sadness in that house.
You should not put your house on fire, otherwise it may burn down again.
You cannot put a house where there once was a gate - the household will creak just like the gate.
A favorable place to build a house is where livestock likes to rest, where animals often lie, as well as a place that has already been inhabited by someone.

When to build a house

Don't build a house when you're old, or you'll die soon.
It is necessary to cut down wood for a house full month, then the logs will not crack.
The most favorable time for harvesting trees for building a house is considered to be March and April, since at this time the sap strengthens the wood.
Good luck will help in everything if you start building a house during Lent (early spring) and on the new moon; it is also good if the construction time frame covers the Trinity.
If you start building a house on the day dedicated to the martyr, you will not complete the construction, but if you start construction on the day dedicated to the memory of the saints, everything will be fine.
Construction should begin only on Tuesday or Thursday.
The stoves should be placed under the new moon - they will be warmer, but in no case on the waning moon.
Construction started on the waning moon will either not be completed, or the house will subsequently be overcome by evil spirits.

Start of construction

If, when cutting down a forest to build a house, the first felled log catches on another tree and does not fall to the ground, you should not cut down any more forest, otherwise the house will be unhappy.
If a girl lays the first foundation in a house under construction, this house will always be warm in winter.
The first two beams of the frame must be laid along the house, and then across, otherwise the life will be transverse.
In the front corner, on the first masonry, you need to put money - for wealth in the new house.
No one should be present during the laying of the hut, otherwise a great misfortune will happen. The master can “mortgage the house on his own head” and will certainly die.
On the first day of work, the craftsmen cut down only one crown, and when leaving, they place a small slice of bread on each corner. If by morning all the bread remains intact, then there will always be prosperity in the house under construction, and the house itself will happily stand for many years.
Until the first crown is laid, the craftsmen should not leave the place of work, they should not stick an ax into a log or hit it with a butt, otherwise in all these cases the new house can be involuntarily damaged.

Other signs and beliefs associated with construction

During construction, you cannot place the pillars with the butt up - there will be no happiness, the livestock will be poorly managed.
The floor in the house must be laid lengthwise, towards the threshold, otherwise there will be no happiness in the house.
If the carpenters and the stove maker were poorly treated, then life in the house will be bad - sometimes the brownie sings, sometimes knocks, sometimes the brownie squeals in the chimney.
When building a house, you cannot use trees that grew on the site of a destroyed church, chapel, or on a grave, otherwise there will never be happiness in the house.
Cursed trees, such as spruce and aspen, should not be used in the construction of a house.
The one who decides to cut down any old tree for a house is grievously sinning, thereby depriving him of his well-deserved right to windfall, that is, to natural, spontaneous death.
You cannot build a house from dry trees, otherwise the residents of such a house will subsequently suffer from dryness.
Using a log with a stepchild in construction (that is, a knot coming from the depths of the trunk) leads to the rapid death of the owner of the house.
If you put a pear under a house while laying it, then there will be sadness in it.
The house is not built with windows or gates “at night”, that is, to the north, otherwise the devils will survive the owner.
If, when cutting the embryonic crown, the first chip flies inside the quadrangle, then all kinds of profit, luck and prosperity will come to the house.
All the chips obtained when cutting the first crown must be collected in the middle of the quadrangle, so that what is happening outside is known in the house, but so that it is not known on the street what is happening at home.
Coniferous branches should be placed at the base of the house to protect it from lightning.
When building a house, the livestock is placed at an angle, and the money is placed under a mortgage log.
When building a house, after the row is laid, silver coins are placed under the front corner, then copper coins, so that there will always be money in the house.
When laying the foundation for a new house, money is placed under its corner for wealth. Wool - for warmth, incense - for holiness and so that the brownie does not joke -
When cutting down a house, you should not leave the ax in the wall, otherwise things will seem strange in that house.
When the mother rises to her new house, a copper icon and a loaf of rye bread wrapped in a scarf are tied to her. While the mother is being lowered into place, the knot of the rope is cut off with an ax. If the icon falls upside down, then the mistress of the house will die before the owner, and vice versa.
When they put up the matitsa (the central beam on which the ceiling is laid), they bake a cake and treat the carpenters to drink.
When building a new house, you cannot put a log rubbed against another into a wall, otherwise the entire family that will live in this house will die out.
If craftsmen see a hare from the height of a house under construction, the house will not be happy for the residents, but if there is a wolf, the house will face all sorts of well-being.
When the construction of a house is completed, the owner throws a consecrated egg over it, which he immediately buries at the site of its fall - the wind will not tear off the roof.
When construction is completed, the house must be consecrated by the priest, or at least every corner of the house must be sprinkled with holy water from the church.

The place where the house would stand was chosen very carefully and a large number of ceremonies, after which the place for building a house was determined. First of all, they baked bread and assigned one loaf to this house, i.e., if the bread falls apart or does not rise, then it will be bad and vice versa.

In the evening they took a dry sheep's fleece, laid it in the place where the hut was supposed to stand, and if in the morning even one drop of water can be squeezed out of the wool, then the owner of the house will have some income, and if the wool turns out to be dry, then this portends poverty.

In addition, in the evening they brought water from the well, and while no one took water from the bucket, they measured out nine glasses with a glass three times, starting each time from the first, and the glasses should be full and poured the water into the pot, which should be dry. Such pots with measured water and tightly covered were placed at the place where the house was to be built in each corner. A loaf of bread and salt were also placed there. If the water arrives in the morning, then this portends happiness, but if it decreases, then there is no need to build houses at a loss to your household. The third ritual was this: they cut off the top of a whole cow, put salt on it and put it in the same place overnight, and if the bread disappeared, then it would be good and the bread was given to the dog.

Upon completion of the construction of the house, the following unusual ritual was observed: without entering the house, they first placed a table covered with a white tablecloth in the middle of the room. Rye bread with salt was placed on this table and left overnight. The next day in the evening they let in a black rooster and a hen and left them to spend the night; if they spend the night safely, then there is nothing to fear from evil spirits; if they disappear, evil spirits are present. On the third night, a black male and female cat were allowed in and watched as if they were roosters.

When moving to a new house, they celebrated a housewarming party. Housewarming in the old days was also accompanied by a whole series of rituals. When going to the house, the time was chosen as early as possible before sunrise and, moreover, not on Monday or Saturday. This was done so as not to frequently move from house to house. The owner and the hostess entered the room together, holding bread and salt in their hands, and the children followed them and on the threshold said: “To the Lord of the Lord, take us into the little house, you guys should be calm, don’t bother us, we’ll just build a hut for ourselves, rent for you." Then, upon entering the room, they placed bread and salt on the table.

Rituals in Rus' during the construction of a house and housewarming at a later time.

Ceremony during the construction of a house.

When building a new house, a Russian person invited a priest, they served a prayer service and placed several coins under the foundation of the house, and at the end of the ceremony, those present were treated to lunch. At the end, a prayer service was served and the whole house was sprinkled with holy water.

Housewarming ritual.

When moving to a new house, first they brought in the icon and bread and salt, and then a rooster and chicken. Having settled in, they held a housewarming party, treated relatives and friends to dinner, and then everyone present had to send bread and salt to the new residents. Moreover, it was believed that the richer the bread, the more respect the sender showed, and many added silver straws, sugar, tea, etc. to this.

They don’t build a house on the site of a burnt one; according to signs, sooner or later a fire will happen in such a place again. If it is necessary to build a house, then stand in place former home and say:

Mother Theotokos commanded:

“Don’t build a house where the earth was on fire.”

I'll bend my back lower,

I will come closer to Her throne:

“Bless my development business

And every living body."

Who will live in this house?

He will honor the Mother of God.

So be it, so be it, so be it!

Forever and ever!

It is believed that it is good to build a house in the place where poultry roams: this place has favorable energy.

If you are building a house out of wood, make sure that you do not put a log with a knot in the middle at the crown of the house, otherwise the owners of the house may die within seven years.

Moreover, during construction wooden house no one can guarantee that a log made from a tree on which a man once hanged himself will not be used. To be on the safe side and ward off trouble, collect the first shavings from the logs and burn them while reading the following protective plot:

The roots are in the ground, and the amulet is on me.
So be it, so be it, so be it! Forever and ever!

Do not start building a house on the 13th - there will be no happiness in this house. As they used to say in the old days: “They build a hut for the devils.”

In any case, no matter what kind of house you are building - stone or wooden - before starting construction, you must read a prayer for the foundation of the house:

Almighty God, who created the heavens with reason and founded the earth on its firmament, the Creator and Creator of all, look at Your Child (name), who deigned in the power of Your fortress to erect a house into a dwelling, and build it with a building: establish it on solid stone, and found according to Your Divine voice, neither wind, nor water, nor anything else can harm it: deign to bring it to the end, and in it those who want to live from any slander that is opposed to FREEDOM. For Yours is the Power, and Yours is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory! So be it, so be it, so be it! Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Ohm.

There are words for a rich and happy life in a new home.

When starting to build a house, place small change at three corners of the future foundation, saying:

Peace, quiet, wealth.
To the Glory of our Gods and Ancestors!

And another amulet for the area in front of the house.

Hang the wedding ring on a woolen thread made from sheep's wool and walk through your garden plot in a criss-cross manner with the words:
My God, my Grace, don’t let me take even a speck of dust from this place. Just as a dead man does not see the light, so a thief will not harm this place. My watchmen in heaven.
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Ohm.

Finally, the most reliable conspiracy against troubles and troubles.

Chur-Churilo, old, old.
You sit, sit and sit!
Look, look, look!
You walk, walk around!
Yes, brave (name) trouble.
So be it, so be it, so be it!

Signs for building a new house were invented by our ancestors several hundred years ago. It is advisable to follow them so that you can live well in this house, and so that prosperity and happiness do not leave you. Signs for building a new house - choosing a time and place You need to start building a new house on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday or Thursday. These are the best days for this. The moon phase that is suitable for this type of work is the full moon. If you follow these guidelines for the construction of your new home, it will be strong and last a long time. And the time of year is spring or autumn. You cannot start construction during a leap year, otherwise you will suffer misfortune related to the house. Don't start on Sunday or the day dedicated to the holy martyr. You cannot work on a construction site every day - rest on Sundays and during church holidays. The location chosen for construction plays an important role. Under no circumstances should they build houses on the site of old cemeteries, otherwise they will be disturbed by ghosts. This way you can invite death into your home. If you bought two neighboring plots, you can only be happy for you, because you will have a large house and, most likely, you have a large and friendly family. But you can’t put a house on the border of two plots or on the border of anything in general, it’s a bad omen. You cannot build houses where lightning has struck. It is believed that the land there is “evil” and the place is “bad”. Do not put a foundation on the site of an anthill, this will lead to quarrels and disputes with neighbors, high mortality and illness in the family. If you are building a house where someone has lived before, be sure to find out about the former residents. If there was a murder on your territory, the site threatens you with problems and the loss of family members. Don't buy material from a building where the occupants have suffered from repeated failures. It is also undesirable to live after quarrels and swearing, alcoholics and seriously ill people. As a rule, such problems arise due to evil spirits that simply do not leave their homes. If you are putting a new house in place of an old one, make it larger. Otherwise, the brownie will not like the cramped space, and he can reduce the number of residents in accordance with his usual concepts of space per person. You cannot put houses where there used to be a bathhouse, and there was a fire in it. Otherwise, you too will suffer from the fire. Where the elderberry grows, no foundation is built. It is believed that it grows only in bad places. The place where there used to be a road is not suitable, otherwise all your wealth will leave you along it. The best place to build a residential building is land that has never been plowed. If there is a lot sunlight and space - very good. When the area is large, or you are building a house in a field, release the cow, and where she lies down there will be a good place to live. Traces of dogs, cats and cows also mean that the place has positive energy. Signs for building a house - materials Every person tends to save. Construction country house- is far from a cheap pleasure, and such a desire is not surprising. Many people buy materials that have already been used. There are signs for building a house that make you pay attention to the materials used. You cannot take materials from an old house that has had a fire. The same applies to residential premises in which the entire family died mysteriously or in a logically inexplicable manner. Otherwise, something bad might happen to you. You cannot build a house from poplar. This is a vampire tree. It is considered as unfavorable as aspen. If you use trees from the cemetery, you will attract death. Signs for building a house - stages of construction Only those craftsmen who do not dislike those who will live in this place should engage in construction. Therefore, in the old days they always tried to appease builders. At the beginning of each stage of building a house, they are sure to treat you to vodka and a snack to go with it. There are also special signs when laying the foundation of a house. Usually they put incense, some wool and a coin there. Wool promises that no one in the house will freeze in winter, incense protects against evil spirits, and a coin will save you from want and poverty. If you put pine branches, you will save your house from being struck by lightning. The girl should lay the first stone in the foundation, then it will always be pleasant to be in the house. When making a roof, unopened cones must be placed under it to protect against evil forces. If something is made from logs, they are not laid crosswise, this portends death. The stove is made on the new moon, then the house will be warm and cozy even in winter . And when it is ready, leave something for the brownie - bread, milk or vodka. You can’t smear the house on Mondays, otherwise there will be rodents and other household pests. When construction is completed, you should walk around the house and look at the condition of the trees that surround it. At the same time, our ancestors removed diseased plants without pity, so that their diseases would not spread to the residents. When they go Finishing work, there is usually a lot of debris left on the floor. It should be removed at night. It is believed that angels look into houses at night and give their blessing to those who have cleanliness and order. This also makes the brownie happy. If you have already installed doors in your new home, when you leave, do not leave any of them open. When your new home is ready, before the family moves in, you should first let the cat spend the night. It will scare away all evil spirits, but will not touch the good brownie if you already have one. The brownie plays an important role in the well-being of the entire family. You should not move into newly built housing during Lent. The best time for this is a waxing or full moon, then the house will always be warm. It's good to do housewarming at dawn. If you're going to have a party to celebrate this, wait at least three days. Under no circumstances should you do this on moving day. Using such signs will greatly help you in your new home. If you follow them, then failures, evil eyes and curses will bypass you.