In the old days, the gypsies had this custom: when the men went to steal horses, the gypsies took their shirts and went into the forest to talk to the forester.
They will go into the thicket, drive stakes into the ground, tie gypsy shirts to them, and let the forest man ask:
- Evil spirits, come out, tell me, what will happen to our husbands? Will they come? Let us know, forest man, will everything be all right, or will trouble befall them?
The gypsies will sit down on the ground, become quiet and begin to listen to what sign the forester will give them. If the gypsy business is successful, then the gypsy women hear the voices of their husbands or gypsy songs, otherwise there will be a whistle and the cracking of whips. This is a good sign - the gypsies will return with success! But if suddenly the dog barks, it means that their husbands have failed, and they will return empty-handed. And it’s even worse if the keys jingle: that means their husbands have been taken to a government house. But the worst thing is if shots are fired: this is a fierce misfortune following the gypsy trail - pursuit and death.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru