13 Meals Superstitions From Across the World

From blowing out birthday candles to breaking a wishbone in half, all of us participate in culinary superstitions and meals people practices, lots of that are so frequent that we don’t even take into consideration them. What are the origins of those beliefs and traditions? In time for spooky season, we rounded up a number of the most intriguing meals and drink-related practices and superstitions from across the globe.

1. Gifting a knife might finish a friendship

In keeping with Chinese language lore, gifting a knife to a buddy might additionally sever your relationship. To keep away from the danger of slicing ties, give your recipient a coin to allow them to “purchase” the knife you’d prefer to current to them. 

2. Two yolks could possibly be higher than one

In Europe beginning within the Roman Empire and persevering with up till the sixteenth century, it was believed that witches might sail in eggshells by means of storms and sink ships. (How eggs-citing!) To forestall this, sailors would smash the shells or prohibit bringing eggs on board altogether. In Roman folklore, discovering two yolks in a single egg foretold the delivery of twins or pending marriage. 

3. Garlic can repel evil spirits

Because of Dracula, garlic’s fame for averting vampires is well-known in widespread tradition. However it is usually believed to repel different evil spirits and demons. In Greece, the place it’s a necessary ingredient in scrumptious dips like tzatziki, braids of garlic are sometimes seen hanging over the entrances of properties, eating places, and shops to stave off evil.

4. Spilled salt is a foul omen

What’s extra common than salt? It seasons all the pieces from pasta water to chocolate chip cookies — and it’s related to various superstitions. A number of cultures throw spilled salt over their left shoulder to chase away evil spirits, and within the U.S. some folks even crawl beneath the desk as an additional step.

In historical Rome, salt was thought of a superb omen for friendship on account of its preservative properties. Gifting salt to new owners can be thought of a blessing in Scotland. In Slavic and a few non-Slavic nations, bread and salt function a welcome providing; the bread is an indication of respect and salt represents longevity. This custom has even gone to area: Soviet astronauts welcomed American astronauts aboard the Mir area station and later aboard the Worldwide Area Station with bread and salt.

5. Noodles portend a protracted life

In a convention that dates again to the Han dynasty, birthdays, anniversaries, and Chinese language New 12 months celebrations name for consuming longevity noodles for good luck, prosperity, and a protracted life. Slicing noodles, whether or not along with your tooth or a knife, means slicing life quick, so it’s greatest to slurp them entire.

6. A wishbone is supposed to be damaged in half

In keeping with Panati’s Extraordinary Origins of On a regular basis Issues, the customized of breaking a wishbone in half originated with the Etruscans, who thought of chickens fortuitous and even stored them in temples. When a sacred rooster died, the wishbone was eliminated, dried, and saved on an altar for worshippers to the touch whereas making a want.

Historians speculate that folks fought over these spiritual relics, which finally led to their breaking the bones in two. Breaking the wishbone got here to be the purpose of the apply: the particular person with the bigger piece would have their want granted; if the bone broke into equal halves, each people would get their want. This perception made its approach to England, the place the bone was referred to as a “merrythought,” and finally the apply unfold to the U.S.

7. Candles belong on a birthday cake

Everyone knows it’s necessary to make a want and blow out the candles in your birthday cake. (And ideally in a single breath, in order that they’ll come true.) However the place does this superstition come from? In keeping with Nicola Humble, writer of Cake: A International Historical past, as early as 200 AD, the Greeks provided spherical desserts adorned with small torches resembling a luminous full moon to Artemis, goddess of the moon and hunt.

Through the Center Ages, in response to Cake: A Slice of Historical past by Alyssa Levene, the German custom of Kinderfest popularized candles on birthdays. On their birthday, a toddler was considered extra weak to evil spirits, so a candle referred to as the “lebenslicht” (that means “gentle of life”) was burned all through the day. After the night meal, the kid made a want earlier than blowing out the candle, simply earlier than slicing and consuming the cake, whereas the smoke was believed to move the kid’s intentions to heaven. The custom unfold all through Europe and finally made its approach to the US with German-speaking immigrants.

8. Chiles might shield you

In southern Italy, the cornicello, an emblem that appears not in contrast to a purple chile pepper (however which has extra in frequent with goat horns and the Priapic artwork of antiquity) is worn as a necklace and even carried as a talisman to guard towards the evil eye. Maybe due to their visible similarity to cornicelli, strings of recent purple chiles may be discovered hanging from doorways or balconies all through the Mezzogiorno. Equally, in India, seven inexperienced chiles and a lemon are tied collectively and hung within the doorways of properties and companies to chase away evil spirits and produce forth good luck.

9. Puffed tortillas might imply marriage ceremony bells

When a corn tortilla puffs throughout the cooking course of, it’s an indication that the nixtamalized dough is satisfactorily hydrated. However do you know it’s additionally thought to predict a marriage in Mexican tradition? If a flour tortilla puffs up, it’s believed that your mother-in-law holds you in excessive esteem.

10. Parsley: to hell and again

For such an innocuous herb, parsley certain has an intriguing set of superstitions. In keeping with lore, the herb’s gradual germination — as much as six weeks longer than basil (10–14 days) and rosemary (2–4 weeks) — may be defined by a narrative that the seeds make a journey to hell and again earlier than sprouting from the soil. Among the many historical Greeks and Romans, this story led to an affiliation with the underworld.

The Greeks thought the herb grew from the blood of a child, Opheltes (later referred to as Archemorus, that means “Harbinger of Loss of life”), who was killed by a snake. They’d additionally embellish tombs with wreaths constructed from parsley. The Romans, in the meantime, associated the herb with the goddess Persephone, queen of the underworld. And in medieval Europe, parsley was related to demonic forces as represented by “the parsley spirit.” If a younger woman gave away parsley, she can be unfortunate in love. And if she stole a spring from one other’s backyard, she might regain it. In England, it was taboo to transplant parsley, an act stated to unfold misfortune. “Transplant parsley,” went the saying, “transplant sorrow.”

11. Throwing rice at weddings might support in fertility

For those who’ve ever thrown rice at a marriage, you possibly can thank the traditional Romans. On the time, grains resembling oats or wheat had been thrown onto newlyweds after marriage ceremony ceremonies to presage fertility, prosperity, and success. Finally, rice turned the preferred grain to throw. And, regardless of rumors in any other case, birds don’t thoughts both.

12.  Precisely 12 grapes needs to be eaten at midnight

On New 12 months’s Eve in Spain and all through Latin America, it’s customary to eat 12 grapes over the past 12 seconds earlier than the stroke of midnight. Every grape represents one month, and consuming them represents hope for prosperity and good luck all through the brand new yr.

13. 13 folks at a desk is unhealthy luck

Triskaidekaphobia, or worry of the quantity 13, isn’t reserved for Friday the thirteenth. Some say this superstition stems from the Final Supper, as Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, was believed to be the thirteenth visitor.

In keeping with Nationwide Geographic, one other origin story comes from Norse faith: 12 gods held a feast in Valhalla that included Balder, the god of sunshine, and Hoder, the god of darkness and winter. Nonetheless, Loki, the Norse pantheon’s trickster god, arrived to the occasion uninvited, making the variety of visitors 13. Loki then tricked Hoder into slaying Balder, an occasion that foretold Ragnarök, the top of the world. An unfortunate feast, certainly.