Is it possible for pregnant women to go to the cemetery. Pregnancy and Funeral: Dispelling Myths Is It Possible for Pregnant Women to Funeral

“What about suggestions and dreams? Should I follow them? " - Goethe asked through the lips of Faust three centuries ago. The topic remains relevant to this day, although belief in omens is considered something like fun for adults, and the official Church stigmatizes superstition. And around the question: "?" - the disputes still do not subside.

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Slavic beliefs and omens for pregnant women

Why are these superstitions so tenacious in the era of Orthodoxy and the universal literacy of the population? The point is not in omens, but in people who preserve the experience of their ancestors accumulated even before the Baptism of Rus, who signs were the basis of communication with almost all natural manifestations and even a means of unraveling the signals of the subtle worlds. "Each event is preceded by a special sign!" - Our ancestors were sure, - "You just need to be able to see this sign and interpret it correctly!"

Important! Such a significant event as the emergence of a new life, naturally, could not remain without many signs and instructions on how to behave for a woman for almost a whole year.

The Slavs believed that we live in the middle of 3 worlds:

Peace of the Rule (Sky of the just Gods).
World of Yavi (Middle World, where all people, animals and plants live).
Mira Navi (Reverse World - the world where the Dark Gods rule, the world of the dead and eternal winter).

Question: "(churchyard)?" - was considered carefully. The fact that this is extremely undesirable is understandable - the cemetery is an accumulation of "bad" energy, the last threshold between the world of the living and the dead. It is unsuitable for a woman who carries a young sprout of life to attract the attention of the spirits of death and black angels.

Ancient customs prohibit pregnant women from walking to the cemetery

We follow the rules!

For the same reason, they tried to protect the pregnant woman from all worries associated with funeral and burial:

They were not allowed to wash the deceased, clean the house after taking out, even at the commemoration they did not put her on the bench, where 11 people were already sitting. (She + child = 2 people. 11 + 2 = 13. The number 13 was considered a bad number among the Slavs not because Judas was 13th at the table of Christ during the Last Supper (then they still did not know anything about Jesus), but by to how the number 13 is a devil's dozen, a borderline number before two "sevens" - respectable and purely positive numbers).
The week included 9 days, a month - 40. It becomes clear where the custom of commemorating the deceased came from on these days.
All family and household rituals were tied to these numbers., it was necessary to adhere to them; she was responsible not only for herself, but also for the health and future fate of her unborn child.
A woman "in gravity" was not allowed to look out the window until the deceased was buried or laid on a bed (a funeral pedestal made of logs and straw to burn the body).

The removal of the body was carried out through a window, often it was even cut through for this. It was believed that the soul of a dead man can cling to the soul of a baby and damage him.

The pregnant woman could not even look out the window while the deceased was carried out

Farewell and commemoration

deceased walking up and kissing a loved one? - This is not forbidden!

Farewell included an important ritual - a request to the deceased to forgive the wrongs inflicted on him during his lifetime and to forgive himself. WITH dead man they spoke in a low voice, bending low to his face, asking for forgiveness, forgiving, asking to convey greetings to those who are already in the kingdom of Navi or to fulfill someone's very important request.

Important! Performing the rite of farewell (forgiveness) was considered mandatory!

It was not customary to shed bitter tears, but it was considered indecent to loudly rejoice that another of your loved ones became closer to Father Rod.

It was not forbidden to say goodbye to the deceased and remember him when pregnant

Commemorate the dead gathered with the whole family, there was a place at the table and the expectant mother. No one was invited to the funeral feast (the final act in the funeral rite), but no one was persecuted either: "To anger the deceased - to lose happiness in the family!"

Sometimes a large number of people gathered at the memorial glade, among them there could be those who wanted to do an evil deed. A woman "in gravity" could become an easy prey for an evil person, since it was believed that she was "on the threshold of two Worlds" - Yavi and Navi.

According to the idea of our ancestors, all children and their souls came to the Middle World from the Reverse, having received the blessing of the werewolf god Veles - "Iriy's grazing soul", a powerful dark patron of various arts, including witchcraft.

Red thread Makoshi

So that "bad" did not happen to the woman and the baby, among the Slavic amulets were very common "nauza" braided from a thick red thread, which the future mother wore on her arms and in her hair, removing them only:

Until now, in many villages the custom has not become obsolete. walking pregnant on a cemetery and with a crowd of people in something red - to ward off the evil eye.
Red is the color of the goddess Makosha - the patroness of the family, the birth of children, married women. Another name for Makosha is the Great Weaver. It was believed that it was she who weaves the fate of all people even before their birth, weaving happy days into the fabric with a red thread.
Wear a red sundress for the funeral and when going to the cemetery it is not necessary at all! It is enough to mark something in red - a ribbon, a scarf, a red thread on the wrist.

Red thread Makoshi on the wrist

"Open" look

The woman was even forbidden look at the deceased in this case! It was said that a dead man can "draw" with his dead gaze and take his future life with him. And most often such a deceased was ranked among the sorcerers. Otherwise, there were no obstacles to saying goodbye to a loved one or remembering him for a pregnant woman in Old Church Slavonic customs. Subject to certain rules, of course!

Important! Perhaps the only immutable prohibition on direct contact with the deceased concerned pregnant women, if the dead were not fully closed their eyelids (it happens).

And what about the official Christian Church? How does she answer the question: “ Can or not pregnant walk-visit cemetery? " Are there any signs or restrictions?

The position of Christianity

The position of Christian priests differs little from Old Church Slavonic beliefs. In any case, to the question: “ Is it possible for a pregnant woman to go to the cemetery and is it possible for pregnant women together with all commemorate the dead? " - The Church replies: “Yes! Not only is it possible, but even necessary! "

It is believed that the Lord blesses those who seek to pay their last debt to a deceased person and do not forget about him, regularly ordering a "commemoration" and caring for the grave.
The Christian Church has a bad attitude only to the "commemoration" near this grave, considering this action to be an echo of the funeral feast, which means it is a demonic custom.
And Orthodoxy and Old Church Slavonic culture are one in one - on to drink alcohol at the commemoration!

Orthodoxy does not welcome such a custom at all, but popular rumor suggests: "The child will be a drunkard!" But the omen that meeting the funeral procession is good luck, especially for a pregnant woman, came to us after Epiphany.

The church allowed to atone for the sins of the deceased through the distribution of money or utensils. The woman who met in a "difficult" situation received the bribe twice - once. Second, her child also received a guardian-patron - a ransom soul (a ransom uncle or aunt) who “fostered” the baby from Heaven and could “put in a word” for him before the Lord.

Is it possible for pregnant women to say goodbye to loved ones, not visiting the cemetery, if on the day of the funeral she does not feel well or her “soul does not lie”?

The official Church does not consider such behavior a sin. It will be enough to order a panikhida and a funeral service in memory of the deceased in the Temple, and at home to light a church candle and read appropriate prayers.

When the bright words of prayers are ascended, it is believed that the souls of the dead receive relief from grief. The soul, separated from the body, “toils”. The prayer of a woman who carries a new life in herself is especially pleasing to the angels and to the Lord himself, and the struggling soul has a Good Hope for an early decision of her fate.

Esoterics, psychology and folk beliefs

Often you can hear from old people that pregnant women and children in cemeteries have nothing to do and pregnant women should not look at the deceased! Why?

Old people say that a baby can be born with a hunchback or get sick with the same disease from which the person died. Even if a person has died of old age, then the baby can "pull" on itself a "dog old age" - Progeria. Here why shouldn't pregnant women on n look at the dead man!
If there is an urgent need, then the woman must be wearing a scarf (the Guardian Angel of the future baby clings to it) and not empty-handed - a gift or a ransom.
The ransom can be any coin or just a candy that should be put on any grave-house with the name of the one who is being buried.
And in no case should you drop or forget your own thing! They can make a "fake" on her, and the mothers are so absent-minded about the demolitions!

Important! Compliance with all the rules adopted when visiting the cemetery is strictly required!

Esotericists explain why shouldn't pregnant women visit funerals and cemeteries- it's just unnatural, because the concepts of a churchyard and the beginning of a new life are opposite. Death is the logical conclusion of earthly existence. - the logical beginning of a new path. There is an eternal struggle between these concepts. You should not "lead into temptation" the subtle worlds and make yourself or your baby an apple of discord between the worlds - this is a dangerous business!

At the cemetery, mummy, willy-nilly, feeds on negative energy, which is borne by tears and grief for the deceased.

At the cemetery, a pregnant woman feeds on bad energy.

Has an explanation why psychologists cannot look at the deceased:

The ancient Roman writer, historian and physician Pliny noted that it is very important for the expectant mother to experience positive emotions, negative ones have a bad effect on the health and character of the baby after his birth.
Modern science has confirmed that the child is sensitive to all the emotions of the mother while still in the womb, hears external sounds and reacts to light.
The sight of a coffin being lowered into the pit is unlikely to cause a storm of joy and fill the soul with aesthetic pacification.
In addition to the emotional stress, it will be difficult for a woman to stand on her feet for a long time, especially in the later stages.
The accumulation of strangers can lead to infection with any viral disease, and this can lead to serious ones.

What to do, if pregnant just pulls to wander around cemetery paths? This happens when a woman's soul asks for rest from the hustle and bustle and asks to get rid of the psychological stress. Is it possible?

Important! If recently someone close to her has died, or a woman feels an irresistible desire to remain in dreary loneliness (this happens during pregnancy), do not interfere with her.

The dawning of a new life transforms a woman. The more seriously she takes her mission as a parent, if, along with this, she has to face the death of a loved one. Popular superstitions intimidate the future woman in childbirth with all sorts of misfortunes, so that she in no case was present at the burial. There is also an opposite opinion, requiring the last honors to be paid to a dear person.

Consider both points of view on the difficult question: "Can pregnant women attend a funeral?"

Arguments "FOR" and "AGAINST" the presence of pregnant women at the funeral

Signs and common sense dictate a woman to stay at home during demolitions. What can “disobedience” turn into and why should a pregnant woman refrain from visiting the cemetery?

CONS: Seeing the dead is dangerous

Seeing a dead man in a coffin promises a pregnant woman complications during childbirth. This reason is not unreasonable. A woman's impressionability, coupled with strong feelings of death and fears caused by prejudice, can be harmful to health.

PROS: Tribute to the deceased

Relatives from different parts of the Earth come to see off a loved one on a long journey. It is customary for Catholics to postpone the funeral ceremony until all family members have arrived. If the pregnant woman had special feelings for the deceased, it would be wrong to dissuade her from visiting the cemetery. After all, then all her life she will reproach herself for not honoring the memory of a dear person on such an important day.

CONS: Bad energy in the cemetery

Visiting cemeteries for pregnant women is not recommended because of their "dead" energy. In fact, one should be afraid not of the dead, but of the living. Being in a crowd and bustle, the general oppressive atmosphere and even sidelong glances at a woman present can provoke her to faint.

PROS: A visit to the necropolis is just a visit to deceased ancestors

Close ones, even if they are dead, do not conceal evil on their relatives. If a woman has a short term, you should simply put on more loose clothing at the cemetery so as not to attract prying eyes. It is better if someone from the accompanying person is nearby - he will be a kind of shield from "evil eyes".

AGAINST: At a funeral, the soul of the deceased can "cling" to an unborn child

The priests call this superstition pagan superstition. Will a loved one, even a deceased person, allow harm? Remember how many people name their children after their grandparents, thereby wishing only the best for their child.

PROS: Sincere feelings for the deceased

You should listen to your own feelings. If the pregnant woman feels unwell on the day of the funeral, then it is better to postpone the visit to the cemetery to another day. She will be able to honor the memory of the deceased on a different date - for a commemoration on the 9th or 40th day, on Radunitsa or on another parental day. If you feel well, then being present at the burial is unlikely to provoke complications.

CONS: A pregnant woman should not enter the Temple

Old people say that when performing a funeral service for a pregnant woman, one should not be near the coffin. In fact, to pay tribute to the deceased is a godly deed. But the smell of incense and the stale air can really make a woman feel dizzy. During the service, it is better for a young lady to be at the entrance to the Church in order to leave the premises in time, as soon as she feels unwell.

PROS: You can not miss the funeral of a loved one

This argument is controversial enough. Even if one of the household members has died, a pregnant woman should first of all pay attention to her own desires and well-being. It is better to either refuse to visit the burial of a friend or colleague, or be present at the very beginning of the ceremony, before hammering the lid of the coffin. The death of a young boy or girl in the parents of the deceased may unknowingly cause hostility towards the pregnant woman. It is better not to provoke the deceased's household to negative emotions.

CONS: Confessional affiliation

Muslims do not accept the presence of women at burial. All funeral actions are performed by men, even if the deceased is a representative of the weaker sex. It is better for a pregnant Muslim woman to stay at home and grieve there for the untimely departed.

One of the popular beliefs claims that a pregnant woman cannot go to the cemetery and attend a funeral. However, there are different situations in life, and many women do not know what to do right - to go to a funeral or to abstain? In the article, we will find out where this belief came from, and figure out how to behave if fate has put in front of a difficult choice.

It is difficult to imagine the life of a Russian person without popular signs and beliefs, even the most modern girls sneak around a black cat and worry about spilled salt. In our head, two higher educations, faith in God and grandmother's omens, calmly coexist. And when it comes to pregnancy, then you can no longer take a step so as not to hear what you can do and what not. People around you constantly explain how to behave during pregnancy, and your head starts spinning - you mentally understand that these are all prejudices, but the fear of harming the baby makes you listen to grandmother's advice.

Is it possible for pregnant women to attend a funeral

In the human mind, pregnancy is associated with the beginning of a new life, and the cemetery is associated with the end. These are two mutually exclusive concepts that should not clash in real life. The life cycle alternates between birth and death, every minute in the world someone dies and is born at the same time, but these events usually do not intersect, hence the belief that a pregnant woman should not visit the abode of death. This is especially true for a funeral, because it is difficult for any person to face death, and a pregnant woman does not need negative emotions and stress at all and can even be dangerous. From time immemorial it was believed that it was dangerous for a pregnant woman to see a dead woman - this is a bad omen that signifies the coming of death.

All people are different, and they perceive the funeral in their own way: someone treats death philosophically, someone, on the contrary, has a hard time tolerating the presence of the deceased, so you need to look at the situation, it all depends on the woman's temperament and emotionality. Listen to your inner voice, not your sense of duty. The heavy atmosphere of the funeral is depressing, so it is better for pregnant women to avoid the funeral ceremony, do not pay attention to gossip and gossip, do as you think is right. On the other hand, if a person important to you has died, and you understand that you will regret if you do not take him on his last journey, then it is better to go to the funeral. That being said, you should understand that a cemetery is not the best place for a pregnant woman, so think about your baby first.

Even priests believe that this is an ancient prejudice and that pregnant women, if necessary, can attend the funeral. There is no "bad energy" there, the main thing is the emotional mood of the pregnant woman. Grandmothers say that the soul of the deceased can "cling" to a child at a funeral, but in church such signs are called heresy. If you don’t want to go to the cemetery, then you don’t need to. Throw away the feeling of guilt - you can say goodbye to loved ones not only at a funeral, go to a commemoration, light a candle in a church, order a magpie, pray for the deceased.

It is important and useful for an expectant mother to attend church and pray, because she prays together with the unborn child, transfers positive energy and God's Grace to him - the main thing when the prayer is read with faith. The church atmosphere gives peace, confidence in the future and tranquility, therefore the clergy urge women to visit the temple more often and pray (this can be done not only in the church, but also at home). In this way, you protect not only yourself, but also the child.

A funeral is usually stressful - this is the main reason why a pregnant woman should not attend a funeral. Negative feelings and thoughts are transmitted from mother to child in the same way as positive ones, so during pregnancy it is very important to get more positive emotions and enjoy life, while it is desirable to protect yourself as much as possible from stress and negativity. Try to avoid mourning events and places where negative energy collects.

Why pregnant women shouldn't go to the cemetery

Omniscient grandmothers scare pregnant women and forbid them to go to the cemetery. Yes, the cemetery is the kingdom of the dead, it is believed that a lot of bad energy, grief and suffering have been accumulated there. The priests say that these are echoes of paganism, relics of the past, which should not be paid attention to. In fact, if the soul asks to visit the grave of a loved one during the commemoration, then it is quite possible to go and remember loved ones.

Whether or not to go to the cemetery during pregnancy is a personal matter for every woman. The main thing is how you feel at the same time, and what emotions you experience. If a woman is going to the cemetery with anxiety, fear and anxiety, then it is better to stay at home or go to church instead of the cemetery. When a woman wants to visit the dead, and is sure that nothing will disturb her inner peace at the cemetery, then she can safely go. Many girls write on the forums that they feel inner peace and tranquility at the cemetery.

The priests believe that God's Grace and blessing descends on people who do not forget their ancestors and remember their departed relatives, therefore, remembering the departed is our duty during life. It is necessary to look after the graves at any time, even during pregnancy, but do it from the heart, and not under duress. If you are not feeling well or do not want to go to the cemetery today, then reschedule the trip to another day. Better yet, delegate your responsibility for caring for the graves to other relatives during pregnancy.

During pregnancy in women, blood pressure often rises, insomnia and high fatigue worries, and emotional lability affects mood changes. Strong negative emotions can provoke a deterioration in the physical condition of the expectant mother, cause stress and melancholy, therefore, it is undesirable for emotional and suspicious girls to go to the cemetery.

From the point of view of esotericists, a pregnant woman has a unique energy that spreads harmony and tranquility not only to the expectant mother and baby, but also to those around her. However, the woman's energy field is very vulnerable, it actively attracts otherworldly entities that draw out vital energy. And in places associated with death, there is a lot of negative energy and entities that are ready to "settle down" in someone else's biofield. This point of view is analogous to popular superstitions, which also warn about "settling in" and harming someone else's energy, therefore esotericists are categorically against any visits by pregnant women to a cemetery, and even more so a funeral.

But even pregnant women can go to the commemoration. If a woman wishes to express condolences to the family and friends of the deceased, then you can attend the commemoration. The main thing is your inner attitude and self-awareness, if there is even the slightest doubt, then refuse the event. If you do not want to go, then those around you should treat your desires and feelings with understanding.

Better stay at home

In such a situation, a woman should make a decision on her own, no one can advise you on how to do the right thing. If you feel confident in your abilities and have a stable psyche, then you can safely attend the funeral and go to the cemetery. If you understand that the person is dear to you and that you cannot miss the funeral, because you will regret it, go. However, if there is even the slightest doubt, then it is better to stay at home or go to church and light a candle for peace.

The same can be said about the physical condition of a pregnant woman - if you often feel unwell, get tired and suffer from mood swings, then you should not tempt fate, stay at home and have a good rest. Doctors remind that strong negative emotions, experiences and tears have a bad effect on the well-being of mother and baby. You especially need to take care of your nerves in the early stages of pregnancy, so if you need to go to the cemetery, then talk less with the mourners and try not to get nervous.

It is believed that a guardian angel is given to each person at baptism, and while the baby is in the womb, he is protected by her angel. However, there is an opinion that unborn children are very vulnerable and susceptible to the influence of dark forces, therefore, according to popular beliefs, pregnant women should not go to the cemetery, and even more so to attend a funeral. If there is an opportunity to avoid a funeral, then use it. Grandmothers say that deceased and unborn children are in the same dimension, so the deceased can “take” the child with him. When just an acquaintance died, then stay at home with a clear conscience - pregnancy is a good reason to avoid a funeral, so no one will judge you.

Signs do not prohibit pregnant women from being present at the commemoration. There you can support the family of the deceased and express condolences. However, try to spend less time with family members who are grieving because you need to avoid stress and negative emotions. Set yourself up for the fact that there is nothing terrible about death - it is a natural and inevitable process. Strong emotions can lead to the loss of a child, so if you are sensitive to the death of a loved one, stay at home.

Our ancestors were sure that the unborn child feels all the sad atmosphere at the funeral and hears people crying, feeling their grief. In ancient times, it was believed that if the expectant mother looked at the deceased, the child could be born dead. In the modern world, there is no such categorical attitude towards visiting cemeteries and funerals by pregnant women, but it is better to avoid this unless absolutely necessary.

Forums are full of discussions on whether a pregnant woman can go to a cemetery and to a funeral. Opinions vary greatly and depend mainly on the nature of the woman. Some do not think about such a question at all and do not change their lifestyle at all during pregnancy. If you need to visit a cemetery or go to a funeral, then they calmly carry out their duties, not thinking about mysticism and omens. More suspicious girls carefully study the forums and participate in discussions before making a decision and coming to their own conclusions. Some mothers-to-be unambiguously listen to the opinion of older relatives and believe that it is better to play it safe and not expose the baby to possible risk.

There are no clear contraindications for visiting the cemetery for pregnant women, so you yourself must decide what is more important to you and how to behave in this situation. After visiting the grave of a beloved relative, some feel peace and inner peace, others are nervous and stressed, which can harm the child. Listen to your inner voice, and if he says that you should not go to the funeral, then go to church and order a funeral service.

Exceptional case

If a loved one has died, and you feel that you should go to the funeral and say goodbye, then follow some rules. Choose the right time when the deceased has not yet been taken out of the house or the coffin has already been buried. At this time, the emotions of the people around are a little calmer, and the mood is more stable. It is still advisable to avoid going to the cemetery, it is enough to come to the commemoration and express condolences to the relatives of the deceased.

Pregnancy has always been a mystery, it was enveloped in superstitions, beliefs and prejudices that appeared many centuries ago and passed on from generation to generation. One thing is for sure, funerals cause strong emotions, experiences and stress, so an impressionable and emotional pregnant woman should not expose her psyche to such strong tests. In addition, a lot of grief and tears are concentrated in the cemetery, which can also affect the energy of the expectant mother, so try to keep trips to the cemetery to a minimum.

If the situation is such that you cannot miss the funeral or you yourself want to say goodbye to the deceased, then go only if you are sure that you can behave calmly and not harm the baby with tears and emotional behavior. Otherwise, refrain from going to the cemetery, it is better to go to church and pray. Only you can decide what to do in this situation and whether it is worth going to the funeral in your position. If you know that you are overly emotional and suspicious, do not risk the well-being of your own child.

There is an opinion that girls in a so-called interesting position should not visit cemeteries, and even less go to a funeral. There are various reasons for this prohibition.

There are two main explanations: why pregnant girls should never go to funerals:

superstitions and omens;
emotional distress, psychological inconvenience;

Stress of a pregnant woman after a visit to a funeral

It is quite clear: every pregnant woman wants to go to the funeral, if there is a need to say goodbye to the closest person and worthily spend on his last journey.

When such a desire is really strong, there is confidence that you will be able to adequately cope with personal emotions, in which case the visit will not get any worse.

One has only to not be present at the burial, because the emotions of the people around you are very unstable at these moments. Come to the house when the deceased himself is there, and after that take a direct part in the given memorial dinner.

And nevertheless, any hormonal changes in the body among women preparing to become mothers still affect the perception of the whole world, reality. All expectant mothers are more emotional and extremely vulnerable, every little thing can greatly upset them. Therefore, it makes no sense to overestimate personal strength, to go to a funeral solely for the sake of decency.

If your psychological state may get worse, and after attending a funeral, you may develop depression, among other things. And among other things, the stressful environment, which includes the funeral procedure, will not benefit the baby. Excitements and worries can affect the health of the child or lead to the worst thing - termination of pregnancy. This is directly related to the fact that powerful emotions often become the cause of changes in the uterus, and this is extremely dangerous and undesirable.

Folk omens why pregnant women should not be present at the funeral

When a girl becomes pregnant, a flurry of different prohibitions immediately falls on her, which are rarely explained from a rational point of view. Nevertheless, our ancestors did not lose confidence in the fact that the future baby must be protected to the maximum.

As for the prohibitions on visiting the funeral, according to various signs it is considered harmful due to the bad energy of the cemetery and the dead. In the old days, people thought: a baby who is in the mother's womb does not walk under God yet, or, more precisely, does not have his protection. Based on this, it is important to refrain from visiting dangerous places.

It is also generally accepted that unborn babies are influenced by the dark side of the world. Because of this, all contact with the deceased is undesirable. There is one more serious superstition: dead people and children, who are still in the womb, seem to be in the same dimension, at the same energy level. Based on this, a connection can form between them, and in the most unpleasant cases, the deceased may even want to take the baby with him.

Following all the superstitions and signs about babies and pregnant women, you can simply lose common sense. There will be no serious and scientifically grounded interpretation, so it hardly makes sense to pay special attention to them.

The Slavs have long been distinguished by their superstition, therefore, beliefs and omens in large numbers have been entrenched among the Russian people. A lot of them are associated with children, babies and pregnancy, since the continuation of the family among the Slavs has always been of great importance.

It was believed that a woman who wants to bear and give birth to a healthy baby should know what pregnant women can do and what not: whether or not they can talk about pregnancy ahead of time, whether it is allowed to prepare a "dowry" for the baby in advance, whether pregnant women can go to the funeral.

The long roots of popular belief

In the old days, people caused superstitious horror and fear for any events, a visible explanation for which could not be found. Such inexplicable and strange events included death and everything connected with it. It was not possible to understand where the deceased person “goes” even today, and therefore they attribute various incredible explanations to such a “phenomenon” and associate an unthinkable number of signs and beliefs with tragic events.

Everything that the ancient Slavs had associated with death and the birth of a new life was "shrouded" in mystery and mystery - these two events were tied into one energy ball and closely intertwined with one another. It was believed that the deceased person leaves for the “other world”, and the newborn comes from this “other world”. The modern world and society have not gotten rid of these beliefs and superstitions, since they already have genetic roots. On the contrary, after a while they were strengthened by new explanations and interpretations - religious, mystical, psychological, philosophical.

It has long been customary that pregnancy and funeral are absolutely incompatible concepts, but different explanations were given for this. Mystically minded relatives have always issued several versions directly related to “ transmigration of souls ".

Mystical interpretation of belief

Supporters of the theory about " transmigration of the soul"After death, they always looked for a rational explanation of where the soul is, which left the body before entering a new" abode ". Many versions have been and are being put forward, and one of them says that the souls of dead people live in the cemetery, next to the burial place of the body.

From here came the versions and explanations of why pregnant women should not go to the funeral:

According to the first explanation, an unborn baby in the mother's womb does not yet have its own soul, therefore the soul of any deceased from the cemetery can move into it. It was believed that in this way it was possible to deprive the future baby of his fate and luck, imposing the fate of the deceased on him. After such an explanation, not a single pregnant woman wanted to attend the funeral or go to the cemetery;
According to the second version, if a woman attends a funeral during pregnancy, the soul of the person being buried will move into her unborn baby. It does not matter who the deceased is for the future mother, such a "relocation" will also have a very negative effect on the health and well-being of the baby, since the "alien soul" will certainly lead a person far from the true path. It was believed that such children would not have their own destiny;
The third version has Ukrainian roots. Its supporters argue that the souls of young children who died unbaptized wander around the cemetery, huddled together. The people called them differently, according to one version - "rubbed". Various tricks were attributed to them: as if they knocked wandering drunks and travelers out of the way at night, frightened young people who went out on a walk, but especially - they were waiting for a pregnant woman next to the churchyard and near the church during the funeral service for the deceased. A careless woman in this way "gave" her baby to them in the ranks of "rubbed": the child was born dead or died immediately after childbirth. In some cases, if they had time to baptize the baby, he survived, but grew up painful and unhappy: the little "scrapes" did not forgive the fact that they were able to outwit them.

Any mystical explanation can greatly scare the expectant mother and discourage her from reflecting on the dilemma: is it worth going to the funeral of a pregnant woman. On the other hand, religiously minded loved ones are able to allay fears and fears by seeking clarification from the Orthodox Church.

Orthodox approach to explaining beliefs

The ministers of the Orthodox Church, for their part, warn against the inadmissibility of accepting popular interpretations and superstitions for a church-going Christian. It is believed that "superstitions" are elements of not true, but "vain" faith, which comes from the "evil one."

This also applies to beliefs associated with attending a funeral during pregnancy:

Priests pay attention to the fact that it is necessary to honor the memory of deceased relatives, and the period of bearing a baby is not an obstacle to this. The priests refer to the necessary actions: prayer, alms for the dead, donation in the form of a candle for the repose. At the same time, it is not forbidden to say goodbye to a close deceased relative if the woman feels well and is able to withstand the funeral ritual in the temple.
It is not recommended to go to the funeral of relatives for pregnant women in cases where there is a threat of miscarriage for the unborn baby or the woman herself feels bad. The duty of the expectant mother while carrying the baby is to take care of her health and the well-being of the future baby, entrusted to her by the Almighty. Therefore, everything that the mother will do to the detriment of the baby and herself is considered a sin, including ignoring the body's signals about trouble.

According to the Biblical tradition, Jesus Christ traveled the earth during his earthly life, healing people from ailments and relieving their souls. The rumor about him quickly spread throughout the earth, everyone was in a hurry to receive healing from the prophet. To everyone who turned to him with a request for help, Jesus said: “ Do you believe? According to your faith will you ...". That is why Orthodox priests today draw the attention of parishioners to the fact that the power of faith should accompany a person throughout his earthly journey.

A pregnant woman should not believe that otherworldly forces during a funeral can harm the baby, otherwise, " according to your faith let it be unto you ...". It is possible for pregnant women to go to funerals in cases where the expectant mother takes the correct position of hope for the protection and patronage of the Lord and the Mother of God.

Psychological and physiological interpretation of the prohibition

Psychologists and physiologists give their explanation of why pregnant women should not go to funerals. The problem lies in the psycho-emotional state of the mother, which is transmitted to the baby.

The baby from the first weeks lives with the mother in one organism, subtly feels even the swings in her mood, and even more so the experience of deep grief:

From the point of view of scientific psychology, any negative emotions are harmful to a small life inside the mother. Child psychoanalysts who have practiced psychoanalysis and counseling of a newborn baby and infants have come to surprising conclusions: babies carry their problems from the prenatal period and are able to project them during the first weeks and months of life. Those babies whose mothers experienced a severe nervous shock during pregnancy, a few weeks after birth, began to frighten loved ones with severe attacks of suffocation, severe rashes over the body, short-term cessation of breathing - typical psychosomatic symptoms.
In addition, from a physiological point of view, harsh and deep negative emotions experienced by the mother can harm the fragile nervous system of the fetus, which will subsequently result in health problems in the child. The kid will be capricious, sleep and appetite disturbances are possible.

Whether or not to go to the funeral of a loved one is up to the expectant mother to decide for herself. Most cite the fact that they already worry about the loss so much, so it won't get any worse.