Le Sabot Post-Moderne

Any Ukrainian explanation for a hair ball in your abdominal cavity? maybe I should check my couch. :-)

How odd. I watch an escapist television show (on DVD since it is off the air) that roughly matches the beliefs you are outlining.

Hey, I am married to a Ukrainian girl for last 15 years ( parents are professors at major Ukr. university, belivers throughout USSR, all children baptized clandestinly. and post USSR time..) and she still will not give me keys or walet or anything else over doorway, I have to step in or she will step out....make your own conclusions....I just see it as a part of folklore that is going nowhere, ....

OK -- I'm a Ukrainian-American -- we have our old superstitions just like Americans do -- many Americans don't like to walk under a ladder (not a bad idea, come to think of it). My mother disapproves of whistling in the house -- or opening an umbrella in the house -- even though she is the most rational person I know and a teacher of literature and language and a writer. It's a matter of custom. A study of Americans and British people revealed that even the most educated among them have some remnants of supersitions -- things they avoid doing because they "don't want to tempt fate". I'll have to look that study up as I don't have it handy.

That having been said, a recent study by a geneticist showed that there is a gene in the human genome which predisposes humans to seek God. In some people it is more strongly expressed than in others. In other words, we have been created by our Creator with a gene which impels us to seek him -- or similar belief. Look at the Soviet Union and its history. Religion was banned for 50 years. The Communist party was supposed to become your religion -- and for many it did. Some continued to believe in their hearts and secretly. Others, losing faith in religion AND communism found comfort and grounding in their ancient traditions and beliefs. Also it is part of our cultural heritage. The Irish exchange four leaf clovers and believe that it brings them luck -- or kiss the Blarney Stone -- we don't think they are backward. The Italians have their traditional superstitions, etc. The older people take these things more seriously. Perhaps they understand that there are forces in the world that may act against one, that it is not wise to tempt your fate -- not surprising considering what many of them have experienced.

One could say that liberals are so overly emotional about their beliefs because they have substituted a faith in the religion of liberalism or leftism for a faith in God. For hundreds of years the Orthodox church in Ukraine coexisted beautifully with ancient traditions -- indeed one of the strengths of Christianity in general, and Orthodoxy in particular, is that it easily took on the customs and language of local nationalities and incorporated them into worship and celebration. Christmas itself, was a way of coopting the pagan celebrations at the time of the winter solstice -- even in the western church. This was done in a way which in no way diluted the essential message of faith -- only in the ways that worship was expressed. In Ukraine we decorate the church heavily with our embroideries and other handicrafts, and sing our own sacred music. I think I've been overlong. But if you'd do a survey of your own friends you will probably find that even modern people may have little superstitions that they hardly dare admit even to themselves. Throwing salt over the shoulder, knocking on wood, avoiding ladders or black cats, feeling a bit queasy when a mirror breaks, etc. These are remnants of an ancient culture and tradition that has a biological basis -- it's just that Ukrainian supersititions seem more alien to the American than knocking on wood. "It's a Ukrainian thing: ;-)