Our ancestors, just like we do now, also suffered from various sleep disorders. Therefore, all kinds of methods for a quick immersion in the realm of dreams have been preserved since those times. Some of them will seem familiar to a modern person, while others, on the contrary, will cause surprise.
Scratching feet
In addition to the fact that it was customary to wash your feet before going to bed in order to get rid of extraneous, often harmful energy, in Russia, itching of the heels was also practiced. Especially for this purpose, noble persons hired women combers. Representatives of the lower classes scratched their feet by their offspring or spouses.
According to modern experts, this ritual is not at all an ordinary act for the sake of pleasure. Scratching your feet is a massage that not only improves your well-being and relieves fatigue, but also has a relaxing effect and helps you fall asleep faster.
Herbal mattresses and pillows
Traditionally, to combat insomnia and other sleep disorders, Russians used the gifts of nature, that is, various herbs: St. John's wort, thyme, hops, oregano. Usually the plants were dried and mixed with straw, which was stuffed with mattresses and pillows. Before going to bed, the bedding was crumpled and shaken in order to enhance the aroma and effect of medicinal herbs.
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Appeal to pagan deities
Sandman is an ancient Slavic deity who appears to people in the guise of an old woman. It was believed that in the evenings the Sandman walks under the windows of houses and casts a calm sound sleep on its inhabitants. Calm down is the son of Sandman. Those who suffered from insomnia turned to the Drema or Calm down: "Sleep and Sandman, come to your son's head, sleep and Sandman, roll over your eyes", "Squeeze your little eyes, Take you soothingly. Take you calmly, sleep better yourself."
There is a version that Dremu was created by Zarya when she needed an assistant. So some called for help and Zarya herself: "Dawn-dawn, red maiden, take my insomnia, restlessness, and give me sleep - calm down."
Prayers to Orthodox saints
With the advent of Christianity, Russians began to resort to the help of various saints. To overcome insomnia, prayers were read to Saint Irinarchus or the seven youths of Ephesus. According to legend, Irinarchus hardly slept during his lifetime, devoting all his free time to serving the Lord. And seven young people, on the contrary, slept in a cave for almost 200 years, fleeing the persecution of the first Christians.
However, even after the adoption of Christianity by Russia, Russians continued to actively use conspiracies. For example, here is a conspiracy for a sound sleep: “I go to sleep, I am baptized with a cross. Cross in heads, cross in legs, angels on the sides. Guardian angels, guard my soul. From evening to midnight, from midnight to broad daylight. Amen.
Yulia Popova