ИССЛЕДОВАТЕЛЬСКАЯ РАБОТА по теме «Signs and superstitions in England and Russia».

        Муниципальное бюджетное общеобразовательное учреждение

средняя общеобразовательная школа №1

ИССЛЕДОВАТЕЛЬСКАЯ РАБОТА

по теме «Signs and superstitions  in England and Russia».

Яничкина Екатерина

9а класс

Новакова Елена Леонидовна,

учитель английского языка

г. Узловая, 2015

PLAN

 1) Introduction.

2) Main part:

  a)Definitions of signs and superstitions.

  b)Origins history of signs and superstitions in England and in Russia.

  c)Similarities of English and Russian superstations.

  d)Differences between British and Russian superstitions.

3) Conclusion.

INTRODUCTION.

The theme of my research  "Signs and superstitions  in England and Russia."

 Reasons of choosing this theme:

 1. Firstly, the people speak about signs and superstitions a long time. Historians, writers, art historians, sociologists, philosophers, psychologists, and even politicians often  refer  to this them .  Some of these people are superstitious, and some a  not.  Each of them has it purpose, and every their   theory has a right to exist.

 The problem of superstitions and signs has a lot of meanings and makes to argue a lot.  In considering these issues they address to topics such as religion, psychology, cultural and spiritual life of the people,  to questions of predestination and fate of evil spirits.  Signs and superstition play a main role in our lives.  This fact has been proved in the survey of people of all ages, ranging from five years.  Results of the survey showed that 15% of respondents strongly believe in sings, and always follow the rules related to the superstition (look in the mirror, if there is something left home, wearing talismans against the evil eye, and so on).  82% reporting showed  that they believe in sings and selectively follow whatever rules, but always follow the traditions and customs that are associated with the holidays, which are also a manifestation of superstitions.  Only 3% of respondents say that they do not believe in sings.  Similar results have already run into some reflections and made the job attractive.

 Secondly, I would like to know the interests of the culture and customs of other countries, particularly the UK.  Knowledge of folklore, such as proverbs, signs, fairy tales, folk songs and legends give us understanding of the country, makes it clear in its history and customs of the people.

 The aim of the work is simple, analyze sings and superstitions in the UK and Russia.

 My task: to define the concept of "signs" and "superstition";  find the history of the origins of superstitions and sings;  point out the similarities and differences between English and Russian superstition and sings;  classify English superstitions and omens.

Definitions of signs and superstitions

 Human desire to protect themselves from the unknown forces or lead to a good fortune has lead to the emergence of thousands of superstitions around the world.  Nowadays, despite the development of technology, science and culture, there are concepts such as "superstition" and "luck."  Life is unpredictable, but sometimes a person notices some coincidence individual events, followed by a series of unfortunate events or happiness.  All this facts lead us to the belief that our destinies are predetermined, but it exists something higher, intractable laws of logic that sends us signs which are usually called sings.

  The  superstition is the belief in something supernatural, mysterious, in omens and signs.

 In ancient times, people have tried to explain the events occurring around them, taking in attention the level of their knowledge.  They did not know much about the Sun, Moon, stars, comets, etc. So they judged them on the basic of its experience and tried to protect themselves from their influence.  As a result of this astrology was a religion.  But the development of science celestial bodies give us clearing  and understanding.  Old beliefs were died.  But people didn’t become happy.  People still believe that, for example, seen a meteor brings good luck, and thus, these beliefs became superstitions.  It is interesting to note that in the Orthodox religion any superstitions are considered a sings.  Superstitions have existed since the dawn of civilization to nowadays.  Millions of people around the world are still infected and superstitions are not going to give them up.  Forms of manifestation of superstitions

Examples of superstition in England: 

 Black cats bring good luck and prosperity.  - English superstition

 If a black cat sneezes near the bride means  young happiness.  - English superstition.

 The English believe that  If you break a mirror, you will have seven years bad luck

The numbers 7,3 and 8 are generally considered the most successful ones.

Examples of superstitions  in Russia:

Who destroys the nest of the swallow, that will have freckles.

 After the death of the parents  you must not drink alcohol forty days. После смерти родственников вы не должны употреблять алкоголь 40 дней.

You must not sew the new clothes to a child before 1 year. Вы не должны шить новую одежду ребёнку до года.

Domovoy knocks and survives during  the nights making the owner leave his house.  Домовой стучит и возится по ночам, выживая хозяина.

 Soap in the bosom saves from spoiling.

 Signs are events or phenomenon  that are popularly considered a harbinger of something.

 Despite the fact that Russian culture is very different from English it there are a lot of the same sings and superstitions.  First of all it marks - common throughout the world, lucky and unlucky numbers;  superstitions about mirrors;  ceremony on general holidays and some signs associated with animals.  Its not surprising that people almost always follows the traditions associated with the conduct of the holidays.  Traditions seem to us so commonplace that we do not identify with their superstitions.  In the meantime, if you delve into the history and analysis many traditions,you can see that the traditions and superstitions and superstition, and all sorts of customs and rituals have common origins.

Similarities of English and Russian superstitions:

 Despite the fact that Russian culture is very different from English, and our country took a different historical path, we have a lot of the same sings and superstitions.  The first common sing between 2 cultures is the meaning of the number. There are common lucky and unlucky numbers, superstitions about mirrors and weather conditions, the ceremony devoted to the holidays and some common signs associated with animals.  So, let's look why the number 13 is unlucky for all people. There are many superstitions associated with nature, charms, spirits, objects, colors, accidents and so on.  But perhaps no other superstitious omens, which most people would give to much value in one form or another, as a recognition of the number 13 unlucky.  Many hotels do not have floors at number 13 - the account goes from the 12th to the right 14. Many hotels do not have room at number 13. Many people never invite  to dinner 13 people.  Oddly enough, but there is no single universally accepted explanation of the origin of the superstition associated with the number 13. There are many different opinions on this matter.  Some experts believe that the number 13 was unpopular with the time when people started to learn to count.  Using 10 fingers and two feet as a separate unit, he was able to count to 12. But then followed an unknown number of 13, which frightened man.  In religious circles, the number 13 and emerged around superstition associated with the Last Supper, which was attended by Christ and the 12 apostles - only 13, and it is the thirteenth was Judas.  Some refer to Norse mythology, to Mass at Valhalla, where were invited 12 of the gods.  Loki, the god of disputes and evil imposed by the thirteenth.  As a result, was killed favorite of the gods - Balder.  Another oddity of the number 13 is that it is considered lucky in ancient China and Egypt.  Superstitions about lucky and unlucky days of the week distributed as widely as superstition about numbers, and most of them connected with Friday.  Neither Britain nor Russia are no exception in this superstition.  In ancient Rome, the sixth day of the week was dedicated to Venus.  When the northern nations have moved to the Roman method of calculating days of the week, the sixth day they were named after the goddess of Phrygia, or Freya, which for them was the same as that for the Romans Venus, and since then there was the word "Friday» (Friday), then is the day of the goddess of Phrygia.  Scandinavians believed Friday the luckiest day of the week, and Christians - on the contrary - the most unhappy.  This is explained by the fact that it was on Friday Christ was crucified on the cross.  Muslims say that Adam was created on Friday, and, according to legend, Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit on Friday, and they died, too, on Friday.  Superstitious people believe that the combination of an unlucky number 13 unlucky Friday give quite a bad day!

Differences between British and Russian superstitions:

Both the United Kingdom and Russia as well as  many other countries are known of their richness of the culture, traditions and folklore.  First of all, we must remember that the majority of people in our country is  Orthodox   And the majority of people living in the UK is  Catholics.  We  can  survive  this fact  on  the   example  of  a popular holiday in the UK, as Halloween  that  we  do  not celebrate.  Quite a lot of superstitions arose on folklore.  English and Russian folklore is  very greatly, therefore, and the  superstitions  are diverse.  It is also necessary to add that the similarities and differences of superstitions in Russia and the UK also depend of differences  these two countries of their specific  history and areas.  Despite the fact that in the Orthodox religion some superstitions are considered a sin, the Russians always see some signs in all things. If we talk about the subject that is connected with the superstitions we can say about a mirror. You can already see the difference between Russia and the West.

 In Russia, the mirror was long considered taboo subject, the source of witchcraft and evil forces that can take away the soul of the beholder.  Have such filth in the house was a great sin.  But without this thing is so hard to do! When Peter I ordered all the beard shaving mirrors, and it had to be resolved.  In Moscow, on the Sparrow Hills, a stone barn was built and was put  in a melting furnace for the manufacture of these items once disgraced.  But the reputation of something illicit, wicked, witch, firmly is connected with the mirrors.  That’s why they did not put on display. They hung them in the inner sleeping quarters, covered with silk and taffeta.  A small mirror is stored in special wooden boxes with flaps - Kyoto.  This thing giving to Princess Sophia to his heart friend Prince Golitsyn was a mirror.  On the occasion of opals prince was sent into exile in the Arkhangelsk region.  But the treasure is kept carefully.  After the death he  bequeathed it  to his monastery near Pinega.  Mirror is survived and it is now in the Arkhangelsk regional museum.  Magical properties of the mirrors have never been questioned.  They have to use in  a different divinations, charms, voodoo rituals that can be traced in the literature - from "The Tale of the Dead Princess and the Seven Knights" to "Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors".  In Russia, it was believed that a broken mirror portends misfortune.  Some believe that the failures will haunt the person who did it, even seven years.  But there is a way to protect themselves from the scourge.  It is necessary to bury the pieces into the ground in order to evil spirits would not look in it.  And none of the fragments is cut off.  They also say that the reflection in the mirror newborn is easier jinx.  It was believed that it is impossible to give a mirror, and it is necessary  to wipe the mirror after leaving the guest  with a damp sponge.  During the mourning reflective surfaces should curtain, so that the soul of the deceased would not lost in the mirror maze.  Perhaps in Russia there are so much superstitions  around the mirror, because they were brought from the West, and while almost all Western  was perceived hostility.  Many signs in Russian culture associated with military theme.  For example, it was thought that seeing a black crow in a sunny morning at his window means to die in the battle.  Hear the nightingale singing at midnight means  a poor weapon and so on.

CONCLUSION

 At the end of my research I would like to summarize the role of superstition in our lives.  Signs and superstitions appeared many centuries ago even millennia ago.  Ancient people have tried to explain the world so as they had imagined.  This was the cause of many superstitions and sings.  And, despite the fact that most of them are substantially free of truth, people continue to believe them, and so it should be.  Man can not know everything, and then he will continue to speculate and hypothesize about how the world works.  We are all a little superstitious.  This is the nature. We explored some of the superstitions of Great Britain and Russia, we discovered something new.  Knowledge of the culture, folklore, traditions and beliefs helps us to become better acquainted with the customs of another country, with its history and spiritual life, to enrich their own worldview.  The more we knew about another country, the less the gap between our understanding and friendly relations.  During the work I had been given a comparative analysis of sings and superstitions in Russia and England, studied and developed classification  of superstitions.  I also got acquainted with the culture, history and spiritual life of the Russians and the English.  Superstitions and omens, being a part of the culture of people, have always been and will remain relevant, despite the development of the economy and technology progress.  Other time, superstitions and omens will be a feature of the people, the object of attention and study.  Our life becomes easier when you know the truth.  But when you are surrounded by a mystery, and there is fear.  As you know, superstitions are negative, and the negative will manifest itself in any way.  Have you noticed that superstitions and omens become effective only when you learn about them.  And how to explain it?  It's very simple.  When you do not know the superstition, the brain is loaded with this information, but as soon as this information comes to mind, that in the circumstances your brain programs the body, and you feel the negative impact of superstition, and due to this, begin to believe in it even more, and try to convince their environment.  Modern man, estranged from nature, struck out of use centuries-old experience, stopped paying attention to her characters.  And, surprisingly, many, but not all, signs have ceased to operate.  Bad will not be afraid - as a good sign should not be disregarded, because that what a person believes most strongly, has more success come true.

LIST OF LITERATURE.

1.http://nsportal.ru/ap/library/nauchno-tekhnicheskoe-tvorchestvo/2013/08/31/issledovatelskaya-rabota-na-temu-skhodstva-i

2. http://kschool.org.ru/files/Erudit/gidkich.doc