Order in the house is an indicator of the cleanliness of the owners. Not everyone knows that respect for kitchen utensils and furniture will help bring prosperity to the family. There is a belief that explains why you should not wipe the table with a napkin or paper. It is believed that the brownie, together with the mistress, maintains cleanliness and order, provides the necessary, but for this you need to follow his rules. By wiping the surface with paper, a person expresses ingratitude to the spirit for comfort.
Signs and superstitions
Since ancient times, it was customary that all family members and guests gather at the dining table, so a piece of furniture should always be kept clean. Wiping and brushing crumbs off the table with paper could invite disaster.
You were supposed to use only a cloth to clean things up, because paper was too expensive and was only used to create books and newspapers.
- If guests or family members accidentally spill tea or other drinks, the hostess immediately tries to wipe the piece of furniture with a towel or cloth. There is a sign why you should not wipe the table with a paper napkin, because its rustling produces negative energy, scandals in the home and showdowns begin.
- Since ancient times, the food that was present on the table was considered a gift from the Almighty. If the dishes were full of variety, then higher powers helped the family. That is why family members tried to treat food with respect. Cleanliness was supposed to be ensured with a soft towel that does not make rustling noises, because such a sound could provoke a scandal, this is the answer to the question why you can’t wipe the table with a napkin. Rough paper was considered disrespectful because it could scratch the tabletop.
- The sign why you should not wipe the table with paper can also lead a family to ruin if it is not followed. In ancient times, sacred scriptures were constantly created on paper, so the church did not approve of the use of sheets for other purposes. It was strictly forbidden to wipe with paper, because the forces of light stopped helping family members.
- There is also a belief that if you wipe it with a paper napkin, money will quickly flow through your fingers. If the housewife prefers to brush away crumbs and debris with her hand or paper, then there is simply nothing in the family that can be used to clean up, and this symbolizes poverty.
Why is this impractical?
Paper napkins are an invariable attribute of the feast. In the process, stains of various origins inevitably appear on the tablecloth. The first thing your hand reaches for in this case is a napkin. This is a convenient item for a special occasion, but it is not suitable for regular cleaning.
We recommend: 7 surefire ways to soften water at home
If you wipe spilled tea with a napkin, it will quickly become soaked and disintegrate into fibers. This is simply inconvenient, except to quickly blot a small drop.
Advice: Get special rags made of microfiber, viscose or cotton for cleaning, and replace them often with fresh ones.
It is definitely bad luck to dine at a dirty table, so feel free to clean up the crumbs with a napkin if there is no alternative. You can be guided by another belief: crumbs of food left on the table mean health and strength are left behind. It is better to remove them with any material.
Replace negative signs with positive ones: wipe the table with a soft cloth clockwise to attract finance, choose neutral colors for cleaning rags, and keep them clean.
Popular beliefs
In addition to the belief about paper that cannot be used to wipe the table, there are other superstitions among people associated with this piece of furniture.
- You should never swear or bang cutlery on it at the dinner table, because this item is considered a gift from the Almighty. You must be respectful of the food that is present on it.
- If you brush the crumbs onto the floor with your hand, then the money will leave the family on its own.
- Empty dishes on the table symbolize poverty. If there is always tasty food on it, then this shows the wealth of the owners of the home. Well, if there are empty dishes or dishes, then there is no money in the pockets of family members.
Important! If you put empty bottles or plates on the table, you can invite poverty upon yourself.
- When a person is getting ready to go on a long journey, he must hold onto the edge of the table a little. A piece of furniture will give him strength and ancestral protection, protect him from troubles and draw the attention of the Lord to the person.
- If the table is loose, then this is very bad. The oldest member of the family may soon become seriously ill and even die. It is advisable to get rid of such a piece of furniture as quickly as possible, throw it away and purchase a new one.
- Under no circumstances should you place various items that are not related to food. Keys, bags or other things can be found in another place.
- If you leave dirt and crumbs from the evening, then someone in the family will definitely get sick or an accident will happen to them. When cleaning, the housewife performs a ritual that eliminates all diseases, troubles and problems in the life of the family.
It is advisable to strictly observe the signs of antiquity, but this remains a personal matter for everyone. If a person firmly believes that something bad will definitely happen if you clear the table with paper, then this will happen. Well, if the housewife doesn’t see anything wrong with the napkins, then peace and love will reign in the family.
Why not?
In the modern world, ordinary paper is practically not used for wiping tables, but paper napkins are in use . Their use can also be associated with wastefulness, albeit on a smaller scale.
Each napkin is disposable, and if the table is large, you may need two or three to wipe it clean. Thus, one pack will go away quickly, you will have to buy a new one. Another thing is a reusable rag that can be kept in good condition for a long time.
We recommend: Etiquette or sign? Why can't you pour alcohol through your hand?
In addition, there are mystical explanations for the ban, based on folk signs and superstitions.
What happens if you break it - a sign
There are different signs associated with wiping a table with paper. Each expected consequence has its own logical explanation. So what will happen if you use unnecessary paper instead of a rag:
- Income will decrease, financial problems will begin - this is explained by the fact that a wasteful person cannot be rich, his inattention to detail will sooner or later lead to complete ruin.
- Those sitting at the table will soon quarrel - the constant rustling of paper can unnoticeably irritate, which will lead to tension in the atmosphere and swearing.
Previously, it was believed that the rustling of paper scares away good spirits and irritates evil ones, which harms the family hearth, the symbol of which is the dining table. - The world in the family will collapse - foreign objects (including paper) constantly on the table will irritate, and gradually small quarrels will lead to major discord.
- If a girl wipes the crumbs off the table with a piece of paper, then her loneliness will last for a long time - supposedly men will not look at the careless housewife.
Why traditions prohibit wiping the table with paper
The need to keep the table perfectly clean is associated not only with compliance with hygiene rules, but also with folk signs that came from antiquity.
Paper appeared much later than fabric and was expensive, so using it for household purposes in past centuries was considered wasteful.
But there are folk traditions that prohibit wiping the table with paper:
- In ancient times, sacred texts were written on paper, so using it to wipe the table meant driving the Higher Powers away from your home and stopping using their support.
- The rustling of paper causes negative energy to appear around the fireplace.
- Food on the table was considered a gift from Heaven, they consumed it in silence and kindness, tried not to spill anything on the table, but if this happened, then it was necessary to remove the dirt immediately, with a soft towel or a clean cloth.
- Cleaning up trash with a paper napkin will not work well; according to popular belief, the brownie may turn away from such a house and stop helping the household.
- The noise that occurs when using paper as a cleaning product symbolizes a quarrel, a fuss in the family - therefore, you can only wipe the table with a cloth.
Wedding signs
The most favorite omens among girls are wedding omens. Which American bridesmaid hasn't dreamed of catching her bouquet so that she can be the main character at the next wedding? And in Egypt, a young newlywed wants as many little guests as possible to climb onto her lap - which means she will have many children. Even more interesting are wedding good omens in Russia. Brides are sure to take something blue, old and foreign with them to the ceremony. The color blue, like a cloudless sky, symbolizes calm.
A scarf taken from a mother or a friend’s hairpin can be strangers - they promise a connection with loved ones, their participation. And old is, for example, antique jewelry or a vintage handbag. They guarantee the support of their ancestors and clan. It is also advisable for the bride to cry a little at her wedding - this also promises a successful marriage. If a girl or woman starts slamming the door loudly or only light or dark threads often stick to her clothes, these are also good signs that promise an early engagement.
What to do these days
Nowadays, paper towels and napkins have become indispensable for comfortable cleaning. They are always clean, at hand, and can be thrown away without fear, since these days it will not be a loss for the family budget.
To believe or not to signs is a personal choice. Sometimes they make life difficult, but, on the other hand, why not make every step conscious. Do not randomly brush away the dirt from the table, but remember the respect with which our ancestors treated it. There are a lot of opportunities for this in our time. Bright and soft microfiber cloths, multi-colored sponges, disposable fabric towels.
Life has accelerated these days; you don’t have to think about conventions. But why do even psychologists increasingly advise turning to the heritage of our ancestors? For a woman, at least for a short time, to feel like the mistress of the house, the keeper of the hearth. And then the heritage of our ancestors - signs and superstitions - will be of help, any household chore will be a joy. And the table in the house will become, as in former times, a center of family happiness and well-being.
Why can't you wash with paper?
Today, modern people do not see anything wrong with wiping the dining table with an ordinary napkin. But our ancestors thought completely differently. For them, wiping this piece of furniture with paper meant inviting conflict situations, quarrels and other troubles into the family. Of course, this could not be allowed under any circumstances. But why was such an ordinary action associated with such a bad omen?
In ancient times, the table at which family members dined was considered an object that personified the respect of all family members for each other. During meals, all the residents of the house and their guests gathered here, and this piece of furniture always had to be kept clean.
The rustle of paper was taken as the basis for this superstition. This is what people used to associate with noise during a quarrel. This is where the ban on wiping the table with paper or paper napkins came from. Therefore, for these purposes, people used exclusively a cloth rag.
Important! The use of paper is determined not only by the presence of this sign, but also by saving money. Previously, books and sheets for notes were very expensive, and no one had ever heard of free newspapers and literature. Therefore, in order to avoid getting into trouble and reduce financial expenses, paper was used for completely different purposes.
Signs about the table and animals (birds, insects)
When the table is on the street, you can observe how various birds and other animals behave with it. These observations will help determine what awaits you in the near future.
- Signs of a dove sitting on the table - to death and hunger
Although almost all superstitions associated with this bird are positive, this one promises real misfortune - death, including death by starvation.
- A spider on the table - a sign can be interpreted differently, depending on where it came from
So, if he came down from above right during the meal, then quarrels and disagreements await the people dining at the table. A spider is crawling on the table - signs indicate that ill-wishers have appeared in your environment. A spider on your desk is a good thing if you've just moved to a new place of work. In other cases, this threatens proceedings with the authorities.
- A cat on the table is a sign of a deceased person
That is why (and also for hygiene reasons) furry pets were herded to the floor. The sign of a cat sleeping on the table also has negative connotations. People say that this way she predicts the death or illness of someone in the household.
- A cockroach on the table is a sign that promises trouble
These could be scandals, financial troubles or loneliness. This superstition applies to the common red cockroaches. If a black cockroach, more like a beetle, ran across the tablecloth, and you never saw it again, this is an unexpected success.
What to choose for cleaning your desk
Taking care of what you have acquired is a task that our ancestors set for their children from birth. The process of cleaning the house had to follow all the rules, taking into account the subtleties of contact with the world of spirits.
To attract material wealth and eliminate negativity, they swept and washed the floors clockwise.
As for wiping furniture, including tables, we followed the following principles:
- to prevent scandals and troubles from settling in the house, use clean cloth, and always soft;
- before wiping the surface, you need to rinse and wring out the material well;
- The rag should be changed at least once a month; it is best to buy a piece and divide it into 12 parts, so that it will last for a year;
- the material should be new, plain, but not black or red.
The established rules for caring for the dinner table are explained from the point of view of logic and meditative practices. This once again confirms that signs and superstitions are not fairy tales and horror stories, but observation and analysis of generations.
