We recently bought a house and there is a single cross painted on the trimboards atop every doorway on the main floor to the house and also to the door leading upstairs. Does anyone know what that means or signifies? Realistic answers only please.
2007-06-12 20:25:05 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Maybe it has something to do with the Passover story? (BTW, Easter is the Christian version of Passover, whoever said that Greek Orthadox does this on Easter kind of backs up my guess..)
When the Egyptians wouldn't let the Israelites go, god sent plagues upon the Egyptians.
The final plague was that the Angel of Death passed over all of the houses in Egypt and killed the 1st born child. The way the Israelites escaped this was by painting a cross in lamb's blood above the doorway -- in this way the Israelite's 1st born were spared.
I DON'T think that what you describe is a Jewish tradition. It is probably some sort of semi-Christian folk-practice or pseudo-pagan protection thing similar in idea to this part of the Passover story. But I am pretty sure that the purpose of this (for whomever did it) was to provide protection to the house and inhabitants, and to keep hostile spirits out.
2007-06-12 20:39:01 · answer #1 · answered by Heather L 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You ought to find out whether the house was owned by the Church in the past, because the crosses could only mean that a religious person or community lived there. Who knows, it might have been a Church orphanage or school! Sounds interesting. I suspect that the crosses were painted there for the same reason that an Irish Catholic would cross himself when passing a church - as a reminder of his faith.
2007-06-13 04:00:49 · answer #2 · answered by jenesuispasunnombre 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The cross is a symbol of protection. It is one of the oldest symbols known to the human race and appeared long before the Christians co-opted it for themselves.
2007-06-13 03:51:24 · answer #3 · answered by Richard B 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is for keeping the Devil away. We Greek Orthodoxs do it every Easter using the Holy Light from Jerusalem.
2007-06-13 09:16:56 · answer #4 · answered by jojovas4 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the house might of been haunted at one stage, crosses are always put up for protection....do a little history on the house, ask neighbours...
2007-06-13 04:43:44 · answer #5 · answered by ‡ЭЭЭ‡ 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
me and my friends do it on every exit and entrance because my friend had a house that someone had to perfrom an exorcism on that i had to participate in and it kinda weirds you out
2007-06-13 10:18:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Perhaps you could give detail as to what country....age of house...
2007-06-13 05:01:32 · answer #7 · answered by aredsailjunk 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋