Why you should not stretch under the table: the essence of the superstition for both women and men

Among the folk superstitions, there is an interesting one related to stretching. It has long been believed that one should not stretch while sitting at a table, especially true for young unmarried girls. OBOZREVATEL has examined the essence of this belief.

Let's begin with the rules of etiquette. Stretching at the table is considered somewhat unethical because others may be seated nearby and could be inadvertently disturbed. Additionally, careless movements may lead to the accidental displacement or dropping of food dishes and glasses.

However, our ancestors did not solely associate this superstition with etiquette. Children were cautioned that stretching at the table could result in losing all acquired knowledge as if what they had learned might "fade away" from their memory.

For married men, there was a belief that stretching could attract a rival to their home.

Most superstitions are linked to young girls. Grandmothers would warn girls not to stretch at the table in the morning, suggesting that doing so could "lose their destiny," leading to a lifetime of remaining unmarried.

An intriguing interpretation involves energy. It was said that by stretching, one could inadvertently transfer their strength and energy to the person sitting next to them.

Certainly, not all signs and superstitions should be taken literally. Nevertheless, it's advisable to consider the appropriateness of stretching from an etiquette standpoint before doing so.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told you why you shouldn't return dishes empty.

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