us in the Society only for the sake of possible additions and instructions, A. A. Kotlyarevsky asked not to forget that in this case, despite the modernity of well-known folk customs, the researcher is in the midst of complete paganism, in the midst of hoary antiquity, and therefore his explanations should have an appropriate character. The ancient Slavs, like other Indo-European tribes, brought the concept of life closer to the concept of fire, as indicated by the expressions: “life goes out, life burns out.” With the birth of a child, a new unit was added to the family: a new life was lit, which was personified by lighting a candle, made of white wax as a sign of purity. In some places in Russia, they do not allow outsiders to the faces of fire on the day of the child’s birth, as if out of fear that his life would fly away along with the fire. The child is wrapped in his father’s shirt, which signifies his acceptance under the protection of the householder - the father. In other places, the newborn is placed on a fur coat, thinking that this gives wealth and happiness; on the threshold, like the edge of two worlds, one’s own and someone else’s, and the lord-father was left to raise it, that is, to recognize or reject it. If a child was given food, usually yellow (saffron or honey), this was also considered legal recognition of his existence: meals in the house could only be shared by family members or those currently recognized as such. But the father did not always recognize the child and his right to life was not always recognized: according to ancient Germanic customs, the father could throw away (exhibit) the child, which was done either because of his physical disabilities, or due to a lack of means of food, or even because he was not recognized as legitimate. The Slavs have no direct historical indications of such a custom, and only in fairy tales are there traces of it. Silence surrounds the newborn; they do not dare to call the accomplished fact by its own name and say in an indirect way: “the wife went to Moscow; the wife was shaken!”11 - and they do this out of fear that spirits can replace the child... But there is another reason for the mystery: the fate at the birth of a person is determined by the deities; Greek parks, Scandinavian norns, Slavic judges here - weave fate people believe that the deity itself can appear under the guise of a wanderer, that’s why.
THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE CHRNICALER NESTOR