Magical signs: what does meeting animals mean? Beliefs associated with squirrels A squirrel ran across the road in front of a car
An unexpected meeting with a squirrel is a sign that can warn of many good events. But if the meeting took place in a park area, we are not talking about signs. Here the squirrels are already tame and with similar actions the fluffy animals can beg you for some tasty treat.
The Legend of Squirrels
The squirrel is a special animal. The Slavs had it at the disposal of Perun. The little fluffy beauty was associated with the Thunderer himself, because she could chop nuts and acorns just as Perun chopped oaks and stones.
In the Christian tradition, it is believed that this animal witnessed the fall of Eve and Adam. The squirrel covered her eyes with her tail, narrow and hairless, like a rat’s. For which she received a gorgeous fan as a reward, to the envy of everyone.
See a rodent in a city or village
Pay attention to when and where the squirrel encounter occurred.
Important - the sign above is not relevant if there is a forest near your home where squirrels live. In this case, superstition is unreliable, as is the case with beliefs.
The squirrel crossed the road
A squirrel on the road can indicate troubles both ahead on the road and in the future. If the animal was with the squirrels, expect positive changes (if you did not damage the animals). By harming them, you can attract adversity to your children.
A flock crosses the road several times, rushing about - very big trouble. This even portends an epidemic, pestilence, or war. If one squirrel behaves this way, return from where you came - something happened there. If the animal is skipping next to you, but does not cross the road, expect very good news.
The animal ran into the house - what to expect
The squirrel ran into the room, get ready to meet a loved one who is dear to you. This is especially true if someone is far away now - the person will return soon.
The animal ate something from the table, financial income is awaiting. A little squirrel came to visit - the family will soon have children. You can’t kick the squirrels out, otherwise they’ll take all the good news with them.
Knocking on the window, running to a wedding and other beliefs
If a squirrel sits on the windowsill, porch, knocks on the window or drums on the door, guests are approaching. We saw a squirrel jumping on a tree to meet old friends.
An animal that appears at a wedding procession foretells a long and happy life for the newlyweds.
There is a superstition - seeing a squirrel in a cemetery means trouble.
When we talk about signs associated with animals (for example, dogs), it is very important what color the animal in question is. Thus, hunters believe that if in the first half of spring you meet a squirrel with a fur coat with a bluish tint, then spring will be early.
If you see that squirrels are rapidly starting to stock up, a very cold winter is ahead.
As you can see, there are both bad and good omens associated with furry beauties. They will help you decipher what important events you might encounter a squirrel on the way.
Who would have thought that this nimble and agile animal with a fluffy tail, touchingly funny for everyone who happened to watch it, was perceived so ambiguously by different peoples in ancient times!
Why was the squirrel called squirrel?
This inquisitive and extremely playful rodent, with a red or ash-black skin, has long been called ververitsa or weck. The modern name comes from the name of the small change coin “bela”, which was precisely the skins of these animals. “Animal” money, or, as they were also called, “selfish” money, has been introduced into trade since ancient times. Although the size of the skin is small (the animal itself weighs about 250 grams), squirrel fur has always been valuable.
2.
The squirrel, a beautiful fluffy animal that so enlivens the deserted silence of the gloomy northern forests with its restless, lively disposition, is mentioned every now and then in ancient Russian fairy tales. She jumps from branch to branch, sings and sings, according to the storytellers, funny squirrel songs, and she herself, you know, gnaws on nuts: not ordinary nuts, their shells are made of pure gold, but the grains-kernels are pearly. If a squirrel accidentally runs from the forest into the village, there will be a hoodoo for the whole village - says the gray-haired folk saying. It is this word, wise from centuries of experience, that has preserved to this day the belief that if wolves howl through the forest and squirrels jump along the edges, one must expect either a pestilence or war. “Fidgety, not a demon!” - thinks about a squirrel.
3.
The squirrel personifies agility, agility, tirelessness - spinning like a squirrel (in a wheel). The physical dexterity of a squirrel also gives rise to the idea of its cunning: bel. cunning like a squirrel. Cunning and the ability to move quickly were attributed in popular beliefs to various mythological characters. It was believed that the mermaid, midday, devil, goblin, and the dead ran very fast (“barely traceable”; “so that you couldn’t catch them on a horse”). The Greek gods and the immortals of other regions move just as quickly in space; The Rigveda says that Vishnu “passed through this world in three steps,” while Vishnu’s movement was of a cosmogonic nature, he “crossed the earthly spaces and, stepping three times, strengthened the upper sphere.”
4.
The image of a squirrel is presented in folk demonology. In the guise of a squirrel, a brownie, a merman, or a mermaid can appear to people; According to Russian and Belarusian beliefs, herds of squirrels are in the power of the devil; In the Lusatian tale, the squirrel is the witch's assistant. The view of the squirrel as an unclean animal greatly contributed to the fact that squirrel meat was considered inedible. In Slovenia, among the participants in Maslenitsa mumming, depicting a wedding procession, there were mummered squirrels. In the Polish dream book of the 19th century. A squirrel in a dream is interpreted as a harbinger of a happy marriage or the birth of children. In Slovakia, a piece of fabric used to shield a woman in labor was decorated with embroidery with motifs of a squirrel, rooster, deer and peacock. A piece of squirrel skin was used by the Slovaks when washing a newborn
5.
Perhaps the best opinion about the squirrel was the Japanese, for whom it was a symbol of fertility and inexhaustible ideas and was often depicted in the vicinity of a grapevine. The Celts considered her a companion of the Irish goddess Medb, who personified the land - the patroness of supreme power.
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But among the Scandinavians, the squirrel Ratatosk (which means “gnawtooth”) runs along the World Tree Yggdrasil, symbolizing the trinity of the Heavenly, Earthly and Underground kingdoms, and is an intermediary between the eagle (celestial sign) living in its branches, between whose eyes sits the hawk Vedrfölnir (“weather faded”) and the serpent Nidhogg (representative of the lower world) living at the roots.
7.
The poor fellow, scurrying about, passed on their abusive messages to each other. That is why among these peoples she was considered the bearer of ill will and confusion, chaos. In addition, not only among them, but also among the Slavs, a jumping squirrel was associated with flashing lightning, i.e. with the element of thunder, through the image of the thunder god, it became (together with the eagle) a symbol of war and further - a harbinger of battles and pestilence.
8.
The Slavs often called the squirrel cunning: either for its inherent dexterity, or for the resemblance of its red fur coat and fluffy tail to a fox. Children were also frightened by the fact that in her image a brownie, a merman or a mermaid could appear before a person, who, according to ancient beliefs, could move at lightning speed.
On the other hand, the squirrel was depicted on talismans (or its claws were used as such), in the belief that this would improve well-being. And meeting her in a dream promised guests, or rather, a guest.
9.
However, different Slavic tribes had their own characteristics in their ideas about the symbolic image of a squirrel. Russians and Belarusians believed that the squirrel people were in the power of the devil. The Croats had a taboo against pregnant women eating squirrel meat for fear that the child might be born black.
In general, squirrels figured quite often in rituals associated with birth. So, the Slovaks embroidered her image along with the symbols of a rooster, deer and peacock on the curtain, which was used to fence off the woman in labor, and washed the newborn with squirrel skin.
10.
Among northern peoples, for example, the Komi, in the folk calendar there was a month of squirrels (end of January - end of February), which occurred at the time when these animals began their rut.
And among the Zoroastrians, the squirrel appeared in the horoscope as the patroness of those born in certain years (in modern times 1916, 1948, 1980, 2012). According to their ideas, these people should have small facial features, mobility, uneven character, liveliness, intelligence, high efficiency, homeliness and desire to start a family, conservatism in views. For humanity, these years are fraught with crimes against the innocent, the appearance of evil under the guise of good.
11.
In Christianity, the squirrel symbolizes greed and greed. “Solomon’s Dream Book” warns that the appearance of a squirrel in a dream promises a man an acquaintance with a deceitful woman, loss of fortune, but also... joy, but for a woman it only portends being deceived by an unworthy person.
A small, nimble animal, so cute and harmless, why did people give you repulsive qualities?
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Each of us in this world has at least once encountered a squirrel on the way while walking in a city park or forest. But if you believe popular prejudices, then this sign does not bode well in the near future. Is this true? Let's figure it out.
Why are proteins considered bad harbingers?
This fame has been assigned to squirrels for quite a long time. Our ancestors firmly believed that she was an involuntary witness to the shameful act of Adam, because of which they and Eve were, in fact, expelled from the Garden of Eden. Covering his eyes in shame with his frayed tail, the squirrel thus showed his contempt for God’s children who had broken the rules. They say that even she did not allow herself to commit such offenses. The Lord, in turn, for such a devoted attitude, gave the animal a beautiful fluffy tail as a reward.
For some reason, this particular legend formed the basis of almost all folk tales related to squirrels.
If you meet a squirrel on the way...
There is an opinion that if you meet a squirrel halfway, which is trying in every possible way to attract the attention of a traveler by jumping and circling around him, it means that she is trying to inform him about misfortune in the house. And at such moments, popular rumor advised him to immediately turn back towards the house in order to prevent bad consequences that threatened his family.
Another sign promises misfortune if a squirrel crosses the road. This legend is strongly reminiscent of the superstition about black cats, which in a similar way warned a person about possible troubles awaiting along the way.
In villages, every child knows that a squirrel suddenly running out of the forest warns the local population about a large ashes. In addition, it was believed that if after the fire the animal appeared in the village again, then bad weather would certainly recur in the next three years. Whether this is actually true is not known for certain. But the ancient Slavs believed in signs, and kept their ears open every time.
The squirrel who was diligently stuffing its home with nuts also promised trouble for the person. Meeting such a hostess on the way meant that winter would be hungry and harsh for the traveler.
A little about the good
Not all signs about squirrels warn of misfortune. Some of them, on the contrary, promise a long and happy family life when the animal blocks the path of the wedding procession. And if baby squirrels also come to the holiday, then the newlyweds will soon receive pleasant news about the conception of a baby.
Well, a squirrel jumping on tree branches, according to superstition, reports a pleasant meeting of old friends. Allegedly, one of your forgotten acquaintances is looking for an opportunity to see you.
Seeing a squirrel in the city is, one might say, considerable luck, since most often it lives in the forest, but in rural areas it is not such a rarity. Folk omens have many interpretations regarding an encounter with a furry animal, and we’ll talk about them further.
An animal with a fluffy tail can carry a warning - if you meet it on your way, it spins around you, then in backgammon they believe that this is how it warns you of danger on the way. Therefore, it is better not to continue the journey, but to return home. If a squirrel came into the village from the forest, this is a warning to people about the fire, but if the fire has already passed, but the red animal still returns to the village, this indicates a repetition of the misfortune in the near future.
Meeting a squirrel with a large supply of nuts is a bad sign. Why see her in the forest as a thrifty housewife - the winter will be harsh and hungry. With all this, if you see an animal jumping from branch to branch in a forest or park, then this predicts that you will meet old friends. And to see her gnawing a nut promises a rich and long life, a happy marriage.
If a squirrel crosses the road, this is a very unfavorable omen, but for those who have planned an important matter. It was believed that in this way the animal blocks your positive flows and this way the business is doomed to success from the very beginning.
But it’s even worse if the animal that crossed the road has a shabby tail and stops in front of you - this behavior warns of impending trouble. Therefore, it is worth turning back - from where the squirrel came towards you and misfortune will come.
But if she ran across the path of the wedding ceremony, the omen is interpreted as the most favorable. The marriage of the young will be strong and happy, and the family hearth will be a full cup. An even better sign will be the meeting of a squirrel with a litter of baby squirrels - the young will soon have their first child. But our ancestors believed that the number of squirrels in a litter, the number of children a couple will have, so if a couple saw a mother with babies, then it is worth counting them.
There is another sign that has a negative interpretation. If you see a squirrel on your way, crossing your path, followed by baby squirrels jumping after it, this is an indication that something bad will happen to your children soon. But killing baby squirrels is prohibited, as this can harm your children.
When several red animals come your way at once - they loom in front of you here and there, then this sign says that hostilities, war, and even worse - pestilence will soon begin in the country. If a fluffy jumps next to you on the road, but does not cross it for you, this will bring you joy; somewhat less often, it indicates a meeting with old friends and acquaintances whom you have not seen for a long time.
When a squirrel jumps out onto a wide path in front of you, but do not rush to leave it, this indicates many problems and troubles. Therefore, it is worth returning home before trouble comes to you, or, on the contrary, running away from here before grief happens to you. The main thing is to take a closer look at the animal - the more restless the squirrel behaves, the stronger the grief will be, the more troubles threaten you.
And if you are a superstitious person and purely by chance you encounter this fiery animal on the way, avoid it. This way you can get around your trouble. Our ancestors said that meeting a squirrel is a good sign, but what is it for and where, in the forest or in your own backyard is the second question.
Gray or red in color
Of no small importance was the color of the squirrel and the color of its fur. It also has its own characteristics and
nuances, therefore it is worth taking into account what color the squirrel is – gray or red.
- So, if you come across an animal in warm weather that is gray in color so as not to stand out against the background of the winter landscape, this is an indication that winter is soon approaching.
- Red - soon the warm summer months will approach and the squirrel will not be visible against the background of the pine bark.
Therefore, if you meet a squirrel of one color or another, this is not only an indication of a certain period of the year, but also a quick change in weather conditions, warming or cooling.
See a rodent in a city or village
If you see a squirrel in the forest, it was believed that this foreshadows a pleasure walk, a drinking session with friends. It’s even more likely your desire to get away from everyday affairs and immerse yourself in a fun bustle. When a squirrel gnaws a nut, this sign foretells you an imminent wedding or the receipt of an expensive present.
But if you meet it in a famine or in a populated area, this is a very negative sign, indicating an approaching fire, fire from a thunderstorm. Most likely, our ancestors associated this sign with the similarity of a squirrel and lightning, flame. Often this sign was interpreted very wisely - if there was a fire in the village, and after it was visited by a squirrel, then expect a fire in the next 3 years.
Important! The less likely you are to meet a squirrel in a certain place, the higher the chances of it coming to life.
If she runs through the city, it means war, and if she runs across the road or comes across it, it’s bad luck.
Sits on the windowsill or porch knocks on the window If an animal fluffs its tail near your house, this is an indication of a visit from guests. After all, it was not without reason that they said that a squirrel chirps and prophesies in a guest’s house. But if she sits on the windowsill and looks out your window, guests are already on the doorstep.
When determining the meaning of a particular sign associated with animals, insects, fish, etc., the reader must remember that it is absurd to expect any kind of prediction in an area where they are widespread. Attaching importance to meeting an animal where it is very common is simply stupid. Another site where you can read about the meaning of animal encounters.
Donkey- Meeting a donkey is unlucky, especially if the animal is coming towards you.
Bat- Hear a bat squeak or scream while flying - expect failure.
Cat- It is widely believed that a black cat brings good luck, although some claim the opposite. Killing a cat means incurring serious trouble (in ancient Egypt this was considered a crime and was punishable by death); stepping on her tail is also not good. If a cat suddenly leaves the house in which it lives, then its inhabitants should expect misfortunes.
Dog- If a dog howls at the moon or outside the house, then this foretells death somewhere in the neighborhood. In the East, a black dog is considered the embodiment of the devil, and students of classical literature will certainly recall a passage from Horace in which he says that a black dog with puppies was a bad omen. Some people believe that killing a dog is as bad as killing a cat.
Ferret- Meeting a ferret means ensuring success in your planned enterprise.
Goat- A lucky sign foretelling prosperity and acquisitions.
Hare- In general, this animal is considered unfavorable; At one time it was even believed that witches were hiding in the bodies of hares. If a hare crosses your path, it is unlucky and disappointing. If a hare runs past a house in the countryside, then you need to beware of fire. In some countries, the prejudice against hares is so great that messengers with important messages even turned back after accidentally meeting a hare on the road, because they were sure that they would not be able to complete the order.
Hedgehog- Happy animal. Meeting a hedgehog is good news, especially if he meets you halfway.
Horse- Meeting a pinto horse is fortunate, especially for the player, but if the tail first catches your eye, then someone dear to you will have a hard time. If lovers meet a white horse, then they can hope for happiness.
Lamb- Meeting one lamb means a calm life, happiness and love.
Mouse- If you are given a white mouse, then this is a sign of success and happiness in love, unless the giver is unaware of the meaning of his gift. A brown or reddish mouse is also favorable, although not to the same extent; but the gray mouse portends misfortune and danger.
Mule- An unlucky animal, meaning financial losses and betrayal of business partners.
Bull- A chance meeting with a bull on the road promises prosperity and the acquisition of money.
Pig- A pig is a very unlucky animal, and meeting one by chance means providing yourself with cause for concern. If a wedding procession encounters a lost pig on the way home, then the newlyweds' life together will be difficult.
Rat- One of the animals that the Roman augurs attached importance to.
White rat- a favorable sign, but black has a bad meaning. Damage caused by rats indicates misfortune for those in whose home they live. Roman historians talk about how rats decided the outcome of battles by gnawing the shields of warriors. If your personal belongings have been chewed by rats, then postpone all planned activities.
Sheep- Meeting a flock of sheep unexpectedly is a good sign, especially if they are heading towards you.
Squirrel- Meeting a squirrel is lucky.
Weasel- Seeing affection means family disagreements and worries.
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