I recently wrote and revised a story that is based on a Russian folktale called The Soldier and Death. I had a few people read it, and they asked me a question i didnt know the answer to, nor could I find one online. It is something that crops up in a few stories from Eastern Europe, including one of the Grimm tales. The significance of where Death stands. If Death is standing at the head, the person lives, and if he/she stands at the foot, they die. Some stories might differ on this point, though.

Does anyone know anything about this, how this originated? I could make something up, for the piece, but for my own peace of mind, I'd like to know.