BELIEF

BELIEF, 1) is a faith in supernatural phenomena; a constituent of mythology; 2) is a prediction (foresight) based on a mystical connection of events in a person’s life with certain phenomena (see Sign). B. reflect the type of household activities of people, their worldview, psychology, traditions and customs. B. are connected with totemistic and animistic ideas of RB people (see Totemism, Animism): “If you kill a grass-snake, wait for trouble”; (Bashk.); physiological peculiarities of the human body “If a person has closely set teeth, he has an amorous character” (Rus.); household activities: “When the birch catkins burst – it is time to sow wheat” (Udm.) etc. Prohibitions were made on the basis of B.: “Do not spit into fire or your mouth will be covered with scabs” (Bashk.), “Wash your hands and wipe them but do not sprinkle the water, do not create demons” (Rus.). There are similar B. in many Turkic folklores.