Highlights from the Google translated Russian Wikipedia page for mushroom:
“In the popular imagination of the Slavs fungi are uncertain nature, a cross between a plant and animal life. Such uncertainty is emphasized in relation to them as unclean phenomenon that is often expressed in popular titles, especially in the names of poisonous and inedible mushrooms. Mushrooms are related to unclean animals and plants, with the genitals and feces of animals and foreigners - Jews , Gypsies . According to popular belief , some fungi grow in places where animals are mated.”
“Legends about the origin of fungi associated with Christianity and the pre-Christian beliefs are known in the southern and western Slavs, Ukrainians andBelarusians . Mushrooms are regarded as unclean object associated with filth, saliva, but on the other hand, is blessed food, sanctified by Christ or theapostles . According to these legends, fungi have emerged from grains or pieces of bread to eat in secret from Christ Apostle Peter and spat out, in the Bulgarian legends mushrooms - the remnants of the meal samodiv . In Polish legends ( Kholmshchyna , Cracow county ) planted mushrooms and sanctified the Apostles Peter and Paul .”
“You can not put in the basket at the same time two kinds of mushrooms - Pol. kozierożki and koźlaki , otherwise “would be a black goat with gilded horns and hoofs and vykolet eyes” ( Kielce county ).”
In the Czech Republic, the first three of the fungus is placed in the hollow of a tree, reading the three “ Our Father . “
“In Russian legends, in the woods do not go barefoot, or else you will find only the old mushrooms, can not sleep during the day at the Annunciation - mushrooms oversleep ( Transbaikalia ).”
