Why you shouldn't wash dishes when you are visiting someone: three reasons

When it comes to guest etiquette, social norms often dictate your actions. One such scenario is the desire to help with household chores, such as washing dishes, as a sign of gratitude to the hosts.

However, this seemingly innocent action hides a number of beliefs that warn against such help. Let's dive into the world of folk signs that will tell you why refraining from washing dishes at a guest's house may be a more prudent decision.

According to esoteric beliefs, washing dishes in someone else's home is fraught with undesirable consequences. It is believed that water, which has long been regarded as a conductor of energy exchange, establishes a connection between the inhabitants of the house and their guests.

If the guest carries negative emotions such as anger, envy, or other feelings, then their help can unwittingly lead to clashes, unexplained conflicts, and tense relations between the residents of the house.

In the past, for example, wealthy housewives tended to forbid their maids from doing the dishes. This cautious stance was explained by their belief in the consequences.

However, if the guest is a close person with whom you have mutual trust, you can allow them to help you in this matter. In this case, the energy of the friend coincides with the internal energy of the homeowner, which weakens the ominous predictions.

Beliefs about washing dishes by a guest are also associated with the guardian spirit of the house, often called a "housekeeper". According to popular belief, this benevolent spirit does not like it when other people's hands wash the dishes.

In addition, allowing strangers to wash dishes in the house of an unmarried woman is viewed with suspicion. According to tradition, a woman who does this work in the home of an unmarried one takes away her potential groom, effectively washing him out of her life. Some variants even contain a hint of malice: the offer to wash the dishes may be a trick to bring a jinx on the family.

However, there are exceptions to this general rule. In the case of an unmarried womna washing dishes in the house of an unmarried man, the views change. It is believed that this act can portend a wedding, indicating an imminent romantic union.

Conversely, caution should be exercised if an unmarried woman seeks to wash dishes in the home of a married man. Beliefs warn that such an action can lead to the breakup of marital relations. This story says that a seemingly innocent act - helping to clean up after a meal - can cause a man's gaze to wander, inviting foreign energies into the family home.