Baptism ritual in War and Peace

[Daniel Rancour-Laferriere]

If it floats, it's good luck (a good sign) for the child, if it sinks, 
it's bad....
DRL

PS - the floating/sinking motif appears elsewhere in Russian lore, e.g., 
the lots cast into the water in the Sadko bylina.


Sara Stefani wrote:

>Dear SEELANGers,
>
>We are reading War and Peace for a class that I'm teaching, and one of my 
>students asked a question today that frankly has me stumped. When Andrei 
>Bolkonsky's son is being baptized, the text mentions some kind of baptism 
>ritual, custom, or superstition, and reads: "He looked up joyfully
>at the baby when the nurse brought it to him, and nodded approvingly when 
>she told him that the bit of wax with the baby's hair had floated and not 
>sunk when cast into the font." 
>
>Does anyone know what this refers to? Feel free to reply off-list if you 
>prefer: sara.stefani at yale.edu
>
>Many thanks in advance,
>Sara Stefani
>
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