The custom to "sit down on the path" came to us from our pagan ancestors and lives to this day, firmly settled in everyday life. It has become a good tradition of getting ready for the road and saying goodbye to those leaving.
Before the long journey, with suitcases and bags already collected and placed at the doorway, documents prepared, dressed and shod, we “sit down on the path”.
All, without exception, both seeing off and leaving. It is believed that it takes a minute to sit and be silent, collecting your thoughts. Well, as a last resort, count to ten. But be sure to sit in silence for the last minutes before leaving the house.
Without fuss, pre-departure bustle, remember if you took everything with you, if you forgot tickets, documents and necessary things. Look at the faces of those with whom the departing people say goodbye. Take with them the warmth of the house, the walls of which they leave.
The custom has lived for centuries, if not millennia. And he lives because it contains worldly wisdom, the experience of past generations and common sense.
It is believed to be a Russian folk tradition.
The roots of the “sit down” custom
The custom has ancient pagan roots. Our ancestors believed that if you jump off the spot and set off in a hurry, the brownie living in every house will go after the traveler. The house will perish, being left without its guardian and caretaker.
So they sat down, leaving the hut, pretending that they were not going anywhere. They deceived the brownie so that neither he nor the evil spirits would follow.
It was also believed that the brownie at this moment can give a sign if the road is fraught with danger. If such a sign happened (dishes fell, objects fell off the walls), the trip should have been abandoned.
Those who left, and those who remained, uttered conspiracies to themselves on a safe path and a speedy return. There were a great many conspiracies. And on a good road, for protection from evil and adversity of those who left their native threshold, and for saving the one they leave at home.
Later they prayed. They pronounced the usual words of prayers, leaving the vain and restless, finding inner harmony. Calm composure is required on any road. They turned to the angels for help, urging them to keep them on the way and help. The time allotted for a short prayer and an inner mood for the trip just took no more than one minute.
A good age-old tradition today
Few, from the younger generation, think about why they need to "sit down on the path", but out of habit they perform this ritual. Especially if there are people who are wise from life experience. Usually they say this phrase: - "Well, let's sit down on the path." This means that all those present should sit down at the threshold, even with the same suitcases, and be silent for a short time.
There are customs that live on for centuries. Although, many of those who habitually continue to follow them, no longer remember why and why they act in this way and not otherwise.
The custom of keeping quiet, sitting, concentrating before leaving is one of those: kind, eternal and wise.
