The Red Thread and Your True Self



 Romanians, at least in my experience, have a very superstitious rapport to others.

From early days, parents teach their children to be aware of the others' evil thoughts and intentions (aka “the evil eye”). This warning concretizes itself on their newborns’ bodies, under the form of a red thread tied to their wrists, that they would keep on until they become toddlers. This thread is meant to protect them from the evil eye, at least as long as they are the most fragile.

This custom was probably built to circumvent young children' mortality, due at that time to lack of a healthcare system. But when one believes in something it becomes true, and parents are relieved to be able to protect their children from the others' envy, if not from all the rest of bad things which can happen to them.

When children grow up - they don't wear a thread anymore - they are taught not to be very show-off or else they might get exposed to evil actions from the others.

We've talked here about "Miorita"already. Remember that the Sheppard in this foundational Romanian ballad is to be killed by his pairs because he is handsomer, has better flock and better guardian dogs. This is easily transferable in modern days: he/she has more property, is more good-looking, and has a better job, etc.

So, for certain parts of the population one must keep a modest way of life to preserve equilibrium (and avoid getting “killed”! ). This view has somewhat changed under the impulses of capitalism, which clashes with some of the values of the traditional Romania - but has not completely faded away.

As for me, I always had the impression I was on the side that doesn't envy the others. Basically, that I was a target. That I should wear a red thread all my life.

But isn't this belief a prison ? - a way not to reveal yourself to others, by staying under the radar, with the (false) impression that this would protect one against all attacks?

Well, it doesn't - so my advice - wear your red thread if you need to - but also be real and true to yourself and to your values (traditional or more "recent"). That won't prevent you from getting "killed", sometimes several times a day, but at least it would allow you to live the life (or “death”) that you really want for yourself - just like our famous Sheppard cited above.

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