According to Slavic mythology, today, on February 10, it is imperative to leave the treat to the patron of your home - the brownie. Those who are especially curious can even establish contact with the spirit. But residents of the Ussuriysk urban district are in no hurry to make such contacts. Despite the fact that there are a sufficient number of superstitious people, especially among the villagers, they do not talk about their meetings with the brownie, considering it a bad omen. Corr. IA UssurMedia managed to question the residents of the district's villages under what circumstances they saw the brownie.
Life in the village of Korsakovka is measured and calm. As in many villages of the Ussuriysk urban district, the first settlers were immigrants from the western part of Russia in 1869. Families moved here with their belongings and, what is most surprising, their descendants managed to preserve some of the items. History is revered in Korsakovka, and therefore a room in the style of a Russian hut is even opened in the local club. And also modern Korsakov residents believe in brownies - house spirits that protect owners from troubles and misfortunes.
Country house
Photo: Maria Olennikova, IrkutskMedia
- Several years ago I came to visit my mother. I went to bed with my grandchildren in the room. And in the middle of the night I feel as if half asleep I am rising into the air, and from a height I see my grandchildren. And the brownie in the form of a cat lifts me up. In the morning I ask my mother: what does your brownie look like? She replies that in the form of a black cat. She often saw him, especially when she stays up late at night for knitting, he looks out of the blower of the stove - that means it's time to go to bed, - recalls the production designer of the local club Nadezhda Boldarenko.
In another village, in Vozdvizhenka, residents do not talk about their meetings with household spirits. The older generation assures that meetings with brownies happen quite often, but the superstitious fear of otherworldly defenders makes them silent. The exaltationists tell their stories on one condition: that we do not sign their names.
- It was a long time ago, in 2008, for the Christmas holidays, guests came to our home. Our house is old, small, the table is literally near the front door. Our cat Vaska decided to approach the guests, but as soon as he moved to the door, his fur stood on end, he hissed - he began to behave as if he met a strange cat. We all felt the presence of something otherworldly, it became scary, and the guests hurried home,”says a resident of Vozdvizhenka.
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Cat
Photo: Nikitina Julia, PrimaMedia
But not only in the form of a big fluffy cat may seem like a brownie to the owners. They say that they often see a little fat peasant, usually with facial features like the owner of the house. There is a belief that the brownie is shown to people in the event that he wants to warn about some event. Therefore, the Slavs had a custom during the move to take their brownie with them to a new home.
- When I was young, I lived with my relatives. One night, half asleep, I felt that someone hit me on the cheek, it turned red, I opened my eyes and saw a boy running away. At first I decided that it was my son running, but the boy was taller and older. In the morning I told my mother-in-law, and she replies that this is most likely a brownie, who thus warns of my moving to a new house. And in fact, after a while my husband and I received housing, - shares a resident of Borisovka Valentina.
Brownies are credited with various tricks. For example, many say that they were strangled, piled on their chests, bruised. Household spirits have a special relationship with animals: they may not like a cat or a dog. Therefore, a pet should be started, taking into account some rules.
- The color of the cat's coat must match the color of the owner's hair. You can never get a white cat for brunettes. If the brownie doesn't like the animal, he will take food from him and confuse the fur. You can find out if the brownie liked your choice with a piece of bread. It should be left on the back of the chair. If the bread is lost or fell, then everything is fine, - advises another resident of Vozdvizhenka.
It is believed that brownies do not like unrest in the house and can even punish the hostess by hiding her things, hinting about a general cleaning. Also, the reason for the loss of things may lie in the fact that "disagreements" occur in the family.
- Here's how to explain the situation when socks are lost? Put on a pair of socks, and after a while only one sock is in place? This is all the brownie joking, - is sure the inhabitant of Vozdvizhenka Galina, - then you have to say "Brownie, brownie, joked, but give it back."
In order for the brownie to fall in love with the owners, he must be appeased with various gifts. For this, he will not only protect family members, but also prompt about upcoming events. This manifests itself in subtle sounds. Those who wish to make friends with the spirit of the home can do it today - on the Day of the brownie's treat. It should be left overnight in a saucer of milk and porridge.