R.I.P.
It has been far too long between posts, but to be perfectly honest, much of my attention has been directed toward other pursuits of late. Not to worry, though; I'm back (not that any of you missed me).
Today, I'd like to take a moment of your time for a brief but meaningful lesson.
Many of us have seen the letters "RIP" used in conjunction with graveyards. Many more people, perhaps even you, have always assumed that they were simply a blessing invoked upon the deceased, "Rest in Peace." While not entirely wrong, this does bring to light an interesting point that I would like to clarify.
The letters RIP are, as expected, an abbreviation. However, they do not stand for "Rest in Peace." Rather, they symbolize the Latin prayer requiescat in pace, meaning, "may he/she rest in peace."
It's an importance difference. "Rest in peace" is a short sentiment for the deceased, but requiescat in pace is intended not for the dead, but for the living! You see, in earlier times, superstition was rampant and it was believed that the dead could rise from their graves to terrorize their loved ones. Thus, requiescat in pace is a prayer that the dead will lie peacefully and not return.
As is the case with several common phrases and habits in widespread use today, many people do not understand the true meaning behind that which they do. Perhaps you are one of the many people who toss salt over their left shoulder for luck. If so, you may be surprised to learn that you are following an ancient custom. It was believed that the Devil sat at your left shoulder, and by tossing salt into his eyes, you could blind him temporarily. This quirk is often performed in conjunction with spilling the salt. Why? Because the Devil was believed to cause arguments or tension when salt was spilled, and by blinding him, you temporarily escaped his influence.
Have you ever broken a mirror and thought to yourself, "Well, that's seven years of bad luck?" You may have intended it jokingly, but several hundred years ago, that wouldn't have been the case. In ancient times, mirrors were believed to be a window to a person's soul, and to break a mirror was to crack the soul, which would take seven years to heal.
Do you suffer from triskaidekaphobia; a fear of the number 13? If so, then you aren't alone. This phobia afflicts more than 100,000 people. The origins of this superstition are unclear. Some think it refers to Judas who betrayed Christ and is believed to the the 13th to sit at the table in the Last Supper. Or perhaps the origins are steeped in Norse myth, where Loki, god of mischief, is considered to be the 13th god. He was also said to have been the 13th guest at the funeral of Baldr, whose death he is believed to have arranged. Or maybe it comes from the Persians, who believe that each sign of the zodiac rules the earth for one thousand years, after which the earth and sky collapse in utter chaos. Thus, 13 is a very unlucky number.
Are you a cat fancier? Well, perhaps you wouldn't be such if you knew that for centuries, cats were believed to be demons in disguise, the familiars of witches. A black cat that crosses your path might be trying to cut off your access to Heaven... or it may just be getting out of your way. Cats with two tails were believed by the Japanese to be vampires, and even today in the Netherlands, cats are excised from the room when the family discusses private matters. Why? Because the cunning cat might spread their gossip all over town!
Finally, many of us cross our fingers for luck, but do you know why? It's because to form the sign of the cross with one's fingers was though to ward off witches and demons. The cross was seen as a symbol of unity, and good spirits were thought to dwell at the center. Originally, it was a gesture of cooperation between two people; on to make the crossbeam and the other to support it, but with time it was modified so that an individual could make their own cross.
Today, I'd like to take a moment of your time for a brief but meaningful lesson.
Many of us have seen the letters "RIP" used in conjunction with graveyards. Many more people, perhaps even you, have always assumed that they were simply a blessing invoked upon the deceased, "Rest in Peace." While not entirely wrong, this does bring to light an interesting point that I would like to clarify.
The letters RIP are, as expected, an abbreviation. However, they do not stand for "Rest in Peace." Rather, they symbolize the Latin prayer requiescat in pace, meaning, "may he/she rest in peace."
It's an importance difference. "Rest in peace" is a short sentiment for the deceased, but requiescat in pace is intended not for the dead, but for the living! You see, in earlier times, superstition was rampant and it was believed that the dead could rise from their graves to terrorize their loved ones. Thus, requiescat in pace is a prayer that the dead will lie peacefully and not return.
As is the case with several common phrases and habits in widespread use today, many people do not understand the true meaning behind that which they do. Perhaps you are one of the many people who toss salt over their left shoulder for luck. If so, you may be surprised to learn that you are following an ancient custom. It was believed that the Devil sat at your left shoulder, and by tossing salt into his eyes, you could blind him temporarily. This quirk is often performed in conjunction with spilling the salt. Why? Because the Devil was believed to cause arguments or tension when salt was spilled, and by blinding him, you temporarily escaped his influence.
Have you ever broken a mirror and thought to yourself, "Well, that's seven years of bad luck?" You may have intended it jokingly, but several hundred years ago, that wouldn't have been the case. In ancient times, mirrors were believed to be a window to a person's soul, and to break a mirror was to crack the soul, which would take seven years to heal.
Do you suffer from triskaidekaphobia; a fear of the number 13? If so, then you aren't alone. This phobia afflicts more than 100,000 people. The origins of this superstition are unclear. Some think it refers to Judas who betrayed Christ and is believed to the the 13th to sit at the table in the Last Supper. Or perhaps the origins are steeped in Norse myth, where Loki, god of mischief, is considered to be the 13th god. He was also said to have been the 13th guest at the funeral of Baldr, whose death he is believed to have arranged. Or maybe it comes from the Persians, who believe that each sign of the zodiac rules the earth for one thousand years, after which the earth and sky collapse in utter chaos. Thus, 13 is a very unlucky number.
Are you a cat fancier? Well, perhaps you wouldn't be such if you knew that for centuries, cats were believed to be demons in disguise, the familiars of witches. A black cat that crosses your path might be trying to cut off your access to Heaven... or it may just be getting out of your way. Cats with two tails were believed by the Japanese to be vampires, and even today in the Netherlands, cats are excised from the room when the family discusses private matters. Why? Because the cunning cat might spread their gossip all over town!
Finally, many of us cross our fingers for luck, but do you know why? It's because to form the sign of the cross with one's fingers was though to ward off witches and demons. The cross was seen as a symbol of unity, and good spirits were thought to dwell at the center. Originally, it was a gesture of cooperation between two people; on to make the crossbeam and the other to support it, but with time it was modified so that an individual could make their own cross.