Who would have thought that this nimble and agile animal with a fluffy tail, touchingly funny for everyone who happened to watch him, was so ambiguously perceived by different peoples in ancient times!

Why was a squirrel called a squirrel?
This inquisitive and extremely playful rodent, with a red or ash-black skin, has long been called a veveritsa or eyelids. The modern name came from the name of the bargaining chip "bela", which was used for the skins of these animals. "Animals", or, as they were also called, "selfish", money was introduced into trade since ancient times. Although the size of the skin is small (the animal itself weighs about 250 grams), squirrel fur has always been in price.

The squirrel, a beautiful fluffy animal, so enlivening with its restless, brisk disposition, the desert silence of the northern gloomy forests, is now and then mentioned in old Russian fairy tales. She jumps from branch to branch, sings and sings, according to the storytellers, funny squirrel songs, and she herself - know she gnaws nuts: not simple nuts, their shells are pure gold, but the kernels are pearl. If a squirrel accidentally runs from the forest into a village, to be a hoodoo for the whole village - says the gray-haired folk word. It is this word, wise by centuries of experience, that has preserved to this day the belief that if wolves howl in the forest and squirrels gallop along the edges, one must wait either for a pestilence or war. "Swivel, not a demon!" - thinks about a squirrel.

Squirrel personifies agility, agility, tirelessness - spinning like a squirrel (in a wheel). The physical dexterity of a squirrel also gives rise to the idea of ​​its cunning: bel. hithry yak squirrel. Cunning and the ability to move quickly were attributed in popular beliefs to various mythological characters. It was believed that a mermaid, noon, devil, goblin, the dead run very fast ("barely traceable"; "so that they cannot be caught up on horseback"). The Greek gods and the immortals of other regions move just as quickly in space; The Rig Veda says that Vishnu "passed through this world in three steps," while Vishnu's movement had a cosmogonic character, he "crossed earthly spaces and, stepping three times, strengthened the upper sphere."
The image of a squirrel is presented in folk demonology. In the guise of a squirrel, people can appear brownie, water, mermaid; according to Russian and Belarusian beliefs, herds of squirrels are at the mercy of the goblin; in the Lusatian bullpen, a squirrel is a witch's assistant. The view of the squirrel as an unclean animal greatly contributed to the fact that squirrel meat was considered inedible. In Slovenia, among the participants in the Maslenitsa feast, depicting a wedding procession, there were squirrels. In the Polish dream book of the 19th century. a squirrel in a dream is interpreted as a harbinger of a happy marriage or the birth of children. In Slovakia, a piece of cloth that was used to fence off a woman in labor was decorated with embroidery with motifs of a squirrel, rooster, deer and peacock. A piece of squirrel skin was used by the Slovaks when washing a newborn

Perhaps the best opinion about the squirrel was the Japanese, for whom it was a symbol of fertility and inexhaustible ideas and was often depicted in the vicinity of a vine. The Celts considered her the companion of the Irish goddess Medb, who personified the land, the patroness of the supreme power.

But among the Scandinavians, the Ratatosk squirrel (which means "gnawtooth" in translation) runs along the World Tree Yggdrasil, symbolizing the trinity of the Heavenly, Earthly and Underground Kingdoms, and is an intermediary between the eagle living in its branches (a heavenly sign), between whose eyes the hawk Vedrfölnir sits ("faded from the weather") and the serpent Nidhogg living at the roots (a representative of the lower world).

The poor fellow, scurrying, passed their abusive messages to each other. That is why, among these peoples, she was considered the bearer of hostility and confusion, chaos. In addition, not only among them, but also among the Slavs, the jumping squirrel was associated with flashing lightning, i.e. with the elements of a thunderstorm, through the image of the thunder god, she became (together with the eagle) a symbol of war and further - a harbinger of battles and pestilence.

The Slavs often called the squirrel cunning: either for its inherent dexterity, or for the resemblance of a red fur coat and a fluffy tail to a fox. And the children were frightened by the fact that in her image a brownie, water or mermaid could appear in front of a person, which, according to ancient beliefs, could move at lightning speed.

On the other hand, the squirrel was depicted on talismans (or used in this capacity its claws), believing that this would improve welfare. And meeting her in a dream promised guests, more precisely, a guest.

However, different Slavic tribes had their own peculiarities in their ideas about the symbolic image of a squirrel. The Russians and Belarusians believed that the squirrel people were in the power of the devil. Croats had a taboo on eating protein meat for pregnant women for fear that the baby might be born black.

In general, in rituals associated with birth, the squirrel figured quite often. So, the Slovaks embroidered her image along with the symbols of a rooster, a deer and a peacock on the curtain, with which they fenced off the woman in labor, and washed the newborn with a squirrel skin.

Among the northern peoples, for example, the Komi, the squirrel month was present in the national calendar (late January - late February), which fell at the time when these animals began to rush.

And among the Zoroastrians, the squirrel appeared in the horoscope as the patroness of those born in certain years (the most recent times are 1916, 1948, 1980, 2012). According to their ideas, these people should have small facial features, have mobility, uneven character, liveliness, intelligence, high efficiency, homeliness and the desire to create a family, conservative views. For humanity, these years are fraught with crimes against the innocent, the performance of evil under the guise of good.

In Christianity, squirrel symbolizes greed and greed. "Dream Interpretation of Solomon" warns that the appearance of a squirrel in a dream promises a man an acquaintance with a lying woman, a loss of fortune, but also ... joy, but this only portends a woman to be deceived by an unworthy person.

A small nimble animal, so cute and harmless, why did people reward you with repulsive qualities?

That was a long time ago. Then, when the vast forests had not yet been touched by people, and therefore mighty trees grew there, and various animals lived, who did not know the sound of a shot from a gun, or the clicking of traps.
In one of these forests lived small animals - vekshi. Their black eyes on a pretty face looked at the world without fear, their ears with funny tassels at the ends caught the slightest rustle of foliage or the sonorous chirping of birds. And their red hair shimmered in the sun so that the rest of the inhabitants of the forest sometimes even envied them.

- What beautiful fur coats you have! - the bunnies were surprised.
But the Vekshi only proudly clicked their tongues in response and, jumping from branch to branch, continued to frolic and play. They climbed to the very top of the tree and jumped down, spreading out their legs and rudder with their tail. And the tails of the Veksha were gorgeous: big and fluffy! The animals in flight were so masterly controlled by him that even trees as high as a five-story building did not stop them.
Then, having played enough, they got down to business - to stock up on provisions for the winter. Vekshas collected mushrooms, strung them on twigs, tore cones and nuts, which they hid in the hollows of trees or simply buried them in the ground.
- Why do you need so many stocks? After all, they are enough to feed all the inhabitants of the forest! - asked the bunnies who really liked these funny animals.
- And our memory is bad! Today we remember where our secret is, and tomorrow we have already forgotten ... And so, you see, in the winter we will stumble upon someone's pantry! That's just chilly for us in winter. Our fur coats, although beautiful, are cold in them in severe frost! Whether it's your case! Look, what a fur!
- And you, too, change your fur coat for the winter, as we do. You can't see us in such a dress in the snow, no animal is afraid!
- And we are not afraid of anyone anyway! We are nimble!
But, nevertheless, some Vekshi thought. They really wanted to show off in a white fur coat! And, as you know, that you really want it, it will come true someday!
... When autumn came, red fur began to crawl out of some veksh, and in their place a light, almost white fur coat appeared.

- That's how beautiful we are! - "Snow White" boasted to their relatives. - Warmth to us in such a fur coat. Not like you!
But once people came to this forest. And their intentions were not at all friendly. After all, these were hunters who were engaged in the preparation of skins. They made the mined skins, and then sold them to the owner of the factory, where they sewed fur coats for rich people from fox, bear and even wolf skins.
At first, the inhabitants of the forest looked with amazement at the hitherto unseen creatures, and when the first shots rang out, and the snow was colored with crimson blood, they rushed scatteringly. Beasts and birds are hiding. There was a silence, broken only by the crunch of snow under the feet of the hunters, and the quiet snatches of their conversations:
- Quiet ... let's go there ... I saw what a noble fox's skin? .. We'll sell it dearly ...
And suddenly one of the hunters saw a veksha, one of those who changed her ginger outfit for a white fur coat.

- O! Look, white veksha! Shoot quickly, or it will slip away! Ah, I missed ... She has a noble coat. I've never seen one like this! Squirrel! Pure squirrel! Oh, and we'll get enough if we can get it!

But the animal no longer heard the last words. From branch to branch, from tree to tree, he flew as fast as he could away from a dangerous place!
Black days have come for the white veks. Hunters from morning till night stalked the poor animals, trying to shoot them so as not to spoil the skin. The fur, which quite recently was so white, is now all stuck together from dirt, because the animals did not even have time to clean it.
Two or three vekshi climbed into one hollow and, hugging each other closely, listened to every rustle coming from outside. Food supplies were getting smaller every day, because the animals finally forgot the places where they hid mushrooms and nuts.
And outside, then on the one hand, then on the other, only the exclamations of the hunters were heard:
- There she is! Oh, you squirrel! Shoot! Come on!..
It is not known how this story would have ended, but, finally, winter began to recede. Only at night did she still try to resist, freezing the puddles with frost that appeared during the day from the melted snow, because the sun warmed the earth more and more. Increasingly, the Veksha managed to get out into the world in order to stretch their stiff legs and eat nuts found under the trees, since the hunters, seeing the shabby animal, did not even want to spend the cartridges.
- Where are the proteins? Where have you gone? They wondered.
And the "squirrels" just began to shed, like all other animals. In place of the white fur that had fallen out, red hairs began to grow. Thin and shabby animals did not cause the same delight among people as before. And the people left, deciding that next winter they would definitely come to this forest again to hunt for squirrels, as they called the White Veksh.

Gradually, the old name of these animals began to be forgotten, and even red veils began to be called squirrels. And the squirrels, despite their poor memory, remembered to keep their ears on the alert in winter! That is why we rarely see squirrels in winter, especially whites. After all, they are sitting in their houses, which are full of berries, mushrooms and nuts, listening if hunters are coming?

Why was the squirrel called squirrel?

1. because once there lived a little ginger, which they did not know what to call, she jumped on the branches, did not have tassels on her ears and she loved to gnaw nuts ... and she was also friends with a white hare! and besides, this little animal did not like winter, that's why they called it-squirrel ... that is. white and touching ....
2. because if they called it differently, you would be the first to ask - why exactly so ...
3. because she is a squirrel :)
4. the question is not correctly asked - why the delirium tremens was nicknamed the squirrel it was necessary to ask))
5. COIN and PROTEIN have nothing to do with each other.
   Bela (Bela) - the name of the coins worn out over time, which were circulating in those days (the "drawing" was worn out) The name was formed from ar. (whitewash) "wear out, decay".
6. but what should have been called? Skull horse?
7. She brightens for the winter like a hare.
8. Why is an elephant called an elephant .... why a bear is called a bear .. Can you not ask a modest question, HOW YOU ARE YOU, CHILD?
9. I was personally called a harmful squirrel, because I walk at home with a ponytail on top of my head ...))
10. This question does not seem at all naive to me.
    The etymology of the word "squirrel" is well traced in the annals,
    but that makes it no less interesting. "Squirrel" - suffix
    derivative from the Old Russian "bla" (written through "yat",
    which I here, for the poverty of the keyboard, pass as b).
    In VI Dahl, the form "bla" is still marked as obsolete.
    It arose by simplifying the phrase "bla vveritsa",
    those. literally "white squirrel" :) The fact is that the "faithful" -
    the old name for squirrels in Slavic languages ​​(cf. for example Polish.
    "wiewiorka", Serb. "Veveritsa", etc.) and our distant ancestors
    they called it that way. "Bla vveritsa" originally referred to
    to a rare white variety of these animals. She's probably special
    appreciated or otherwise attracted attention - in any case,
    gradually the name of these albino proteins was transferred to
    all proteins.
    Such phenomena of transferring a name from part to whole are generally very
    common in the history of words. For example, "weather" initially
    denoted only vdro, and now - any state of the atmosphere :)

    P.S.
    While writing, the previous answer appeared. This is not true. Exactly
    squirrel (then still) gave the name "coin", and not vice versa.
    The phrase "bla v'veritsa" was recorded in the 9th century
    in the Laurentian and Ipatiev annals and in general etymology
    words are considered transparent.
    ... and the squirrel is very nice :)

11. This inquisitive and extremely playful rodent, with a red or ash-black skin, has long been called a veveritsa or eyelids. The modern name comes from the name of the Bela bargaining chip, which was used for the skins of these animals. Animals, or, as they were also called, selfish, money were introduced into trade since ancient times. Although the size of the skin is small (the animal itself weighs about 250 grams), squirrel fur has always been in price.

Almost everyone who loves to walk in the woods has had the good fortune to see a squirrel at least once. This interesting animal is familiar to both adults and very young children. Why does everyone love him so much? Red-haired, fluffy, they deftly run through the trees, again and again jumping from branch to branch. It is very interesting to watch their peculiar game. Want to know more about these cute animals?

1. Squirrels are not as energetic during the day as they are in the morning or evening. This time is considered the most active in animals.
2. Squirrels need a lot of reserves to survive the cold winter. 3000 nuts will be enough for her to soak in the cold season.
3. Squirrel cubs are born with fairly well-developed claws, but they still do not see.
4. The squirrel's tail helps it steer when it jumps from branch to branch.
5. In general, these are solitary animals, but they can spend the cold season together, having gathered in a group of 3-6 individuals.
6. The animals make their own supplies every autumn, hiding them in various secluded places.
7. On the front legs, animals also have vibrissae, as well as on the ears.
8. In the wild, squirrels do not often live up to 4 years of age. At home, squirrels live long enough, about 12 years.
9. Proteins love nuts, but peanuts cannot be absorbed in their body, so they should not be fed.
10. Squirrels can give birth at a time from 2 to 11 babies.
11. Their teeth do not stop growing throughout their lives.
12. These animals are very good at hearing. Hearing is the keenest feeling.
13. Squirrels often use their tail as a parachute. It helps to survive a fall from a great height.
14. The animals themselves molt 2 times a year, and their tail only once a year.

These are such unusual, it turns out, red animals.

Why is a squirrel called a squirrel?

There are different versions of why she was nicknamed that way. The first version says that the word "squirrel" comes from the word "white". But what does the white color have to do with it, if these animals have red or brownish fur? Everyone has long been accustomed to the fact that the squirrel is red. In fact, not all proteins have this color. As you know, these animals live in various corners. In Indonesia live exactly What is most interesting, the fur of squirrels in general can vary greatly in color. There are even albino proteins. Such individuals are extremely rare.

The second, more plausible version says that the word "squirrel" comes from the name of the coin, which in the old days was called "bela". The question is imposed: "What is the connection between coins and proteins?" The most direct connection. The fact is that squirrel skins served as this bargaining chip. The animal weighs about 250 g, but at that time it was always in circulation. The fur of animals was also very much appreciated. In addition to squirrel, marten was also used. Money at that time had not yet been invented, so they used such an interesting, but far from harmless option.

It is worth noting that most people are inclined to the second version. But everyone chooses for himself which version to adhere to and what is the answer to the question of why a protein is called a protein.

What else is it called? More on this below.

Other names

What else is a squirrel called? Or rather, they called it. Let's remember the old name of the protein. In ancient ancient times in Russia, this animal was clicked with a faith. He also had another, no less interesting name - veksha. What else is interesting in the world of red squirrels?

Some more interesting facts

Proteins eat a lot. By right, they can be called very voracious. In a week, they can eat as much food as is appropriate for their weight. Everyone knows that there are flying squirrels. In fact, they cannot fly for a long time, but only slide from tree to tree.

As mentioned above, the color of the fur is completely different: from white to black. But most often it is red or tinged with brown.

The hind legs of these small animals are well developed, which helps them to run dexterously through the trees. The forelegs, as you can see, are rather short.

The weight is also not great. An adult weighs no more than 2 kg. What do these animals eat? Most often they feed on insect larvae, nuts, cones and even small birds.

How to lure a squirrel?

Is it easy to see the animal up close? How to do it? These questions are often of interest not only to children, but also to adults. Indeed, it is incredibly interesting to see this fluffy next to you, and not high on a tree. There is an exit. You can lure a squirrel, but the main thing here is patience.

You can try stretching the nuts to her on an open palm. Since the animals pick up the intonation of the voice quite well, you can say something quietly. This method may work, but again, patience and nothing more.

So many interesting things are hidden in a small animal. Now you know why a squirrel is called a squirrel, what it eats and whether you can lure it to yourself. And finally, the advice is this: walk more in the forest, in the park, breathe fresh air and watch these wonderful animals. The natural world is amazing and beautiful.

People who have answered many questions in their lives will never bother to explain why a red, ash or black animal has long been called a squirrel. Is this really the reason for the white stripe on the belly? Rather, a hare should be called a squirrel, its entire skin is white. In Russia, there used to be a different name for her, Veveritsa or Veksha.
However, what is not only in this world, there are real white squirrels, they live in Indonesia. There are also crumb proteins, otherwise mouse proteins. Their tails do not exceed five centimeters in length. In the vicinity of the Ob and Irtysh, there are large teleuts (subspecies of the common squirrel). The average protein is small, weighing about 250 grams.

A person has known this animal for a long time. It is no coincidence that squirrel fur is considered valuable. In winter, researchers counted as many as ten thousand hairs on a square centimeter of her fur coat. On the abdomen, their size is three times less. But the protein of our ancestors was not only interested in fur. In the Middle Ages, there was a belief that poison was extracted from extremely tired squirrels. And in Western Europe, squirrel meat was used to treat sick cattle.

Squirrel agility is proverbial. Why is the squirrel so agile? Is it because sensitive hairs of "vibrissa" grow on her not only on the muzzle, like in other animals, but also on the head, belly and even legs. At barely born squirrels, eyes, hind legs and tail organs, which they need for independent life, begin to grow rapidly. We can say that they become agile, if not in the womb of the mother, then immediately after birth.

Many of us, walking in the forest, are waiting for the charming animal to stick its nose out of its hollow. But the very nesting of squirrels, it is called gayno, few have seen. In shape, it looks like a ball woven from spruce, pine and birch branches, moreover, it is clogged with moss and grass. In bad weather, squirrels do not leave the house for days. In times of famine, up to six animals are packed in gayno at once, but, as they say, in cramped conditions and not offended. But even in the seventeen-degree frost, the temperature here is maintained at 20 degrees Celsius. And yet, no matter how perceptive the observer of nature is, he will never know where the squirrel lives. She has up to five apartments - go and figure out which one she is staying in.

Their mating periods are associated with a lot of unrest. Several gentlemen are tied behind one squirrel, from time to time clashes occur between them, and the lady gets it if she does not bother with a quick choice. During the rut, the males are very excited by the love game, they scream, they run a lot on the ground. In the Moscow region, the rutting period is January, if not very cold, or February-March, and squirrels begin to appear in the nests at the beginning of March. Squirrel couples sometimes persist throughout their lives. However, due to the high mortality of males, family groups of one male and 4-5 females are often formed. They live nearby and maintain friendly relations.