Re: CHAT: Religions (was: Visible planets)

>It is common to sign oneself before entering the
>nave (using some blessed water); and while
>crossing in front of the altar, it is usual to
>cross oneself and bow slightly.
We do both of these things also, but without the holy water.

It's funny watching little kids learn how to
>cross themselves.
Little ones are so cute when they're first learning.

>  They usually do it in mirror
>fashion to what their teacher does - i.e., they
>cross in Eastern fashion, since the teacher will
>cross herself left to right, the children see it
>as right to left.
I've seen them get it in the wrong direction frequently.  It takes awhile
before they get it right.  Mine get it right now, but they are so sloppy
about the way they do it.  I need to really get on them about that.

>  Sometimes they make little
>paper crosses and put numbers on the ends so the
>children can follow which way to do it. When I
>was little, I thought it made sense to follow
>which way the priest blessed us, which from the
>congregation's perspective is right to left.
Yes, that's right, when you're blessing something other than yourself (such
as food or the bed), you reverse the direction.

Isidora

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