There are many signs among the people associated with funerals and the dead. Most of them are observed to this day, because no one wants to incur misfortune or prevent the soul of the deceased from quietly passing into another world. Folk omens and superstitions associated with funerals are sometimes strictly observed even by those people who, in everyday life, do not believe in higher powers and the immortality of the human soul.
Signs portending a quick 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 capable of reincarnating into a bird or an animal, which, as it were, warns the living members of its family of impending disaster. If a bird sits on the windowsill and knocks on the window, then expect 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 in order to stay at least a little longer with his family.
If there is a seriously ill person in the house and his facial features began to sharpen during his lifetime 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 him by the nose into the other world.
A sharp improvement in the well-being of a dying person is also considered a bad sign. As they say: "Before death, the patient felt better." There are many cases when a practically dying person literally a day before his death felt relief, he even had an appetite, and he began to move around the house on his own. However, at night he became very ill and died.
Another sign that portends a quick death: if a dying person suddenly begins to flinch, then it is believed that Death itself begins to look him in the eye.
If the patient begins to collect the sheets in a fist or make such movements as if he is collecting something from his body (people say “picking up”), then these signs also portend his imminent death.
Funeral signs
If a person dies in the house, then all there immediately need to hang all the mirrors. It is believed that the soul of the deceased can accidentally get into the looking glass, from where there is no way out. The mirrors are kept hung 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 chilling stories about what can happen if this ritual is not followed. Oddly enough, but even hardened atheists for the most part 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 vents are closed and pets are not allowed into this room. If a cat jumps on a coffin with a body, then this is considered a very bad sign, and a dog with its barking and howling can frighten the soul of the deceased, which for three days after death is next to its lifeless body.
For forty days after death, a cup of water is placed in the house of the deceased, and a cotton towel is hung outside. It is believed that the shower comes into the house, drinks water and wipes it off with a towel. There are many cases when water in a cup, left overnight, miraculously disappeared.
It is considered a very bad sign if the deceased's eye suddenly opens. People say that soon there will be another death in this family. As if the deceased is looking out for a fellow traveler to the next world.
Signs associated with the coffin and belongings of the deceased
You cannot hammer the lid of the coffin in the house. This could portend another death. After the coffin has been taken out of the house, it is necessary to sweep and wash the floors; after washing, it is better to discard the broom, rags and the bucket. It is believed that in a similar way, death is washed out of all corners. This superstition is firmly connected with another sign: when someone leaves on a business trip or on a trip, it is recommended, on the contrary, not to wash or sweep the floors during the day.
If it turned out that the coffin was large for the deceased, then another death should be expected soon.
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 need to be put in the coffin of the deceased so that he can take them with him to the grave.
Signs associated with the cemetery and the grave
It so happens that the coffin does not fit into the dug grave. This sign suggests that someone else will die soon. They also say: "the earth does not accept him." There was a case when the deceased bequeathed to bury him next to his parents, but, for a number of reasons, the relatives did not succeed in fulfilling this last wish of a deceased loved one. He was buried in a new cemetery, where graves were dug with the help of special equipment. When the funeral procession arrived at the cemetery, it turned out that the grave was too small for a coffin, and the gravediggers had to expand it manually. The 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's also bad if the grave starts to collapse. This can also mean another death in the house.
What to do if you meet a funeral procession
If you are walking down the street and you have met a funeral procession, then you should absolutely not cross its path. Also, you cannot drive the hearse by car. Taxi drivers and professional drivers strongly believe in this sign.
You cannot watch the funeral from the window. If a coffin is being carried past the windows, then it is best to wake up all the sleeping household members at that moment. It is believed that the deceased can take with him all those who are sleeping at that moment.
