Sayings

[badgerscroft]

Why do we throw salt over our shoulder

[MistyLady]

It is bad luck to spill salt. The person should take a pinch and throw it over their left shoulder to break the bad luck. Salt was seen as a sacred and precious commidity in ancient times, not only was it essential but rare to obtain. Judus allegedly spilt salt at the last supper so by throwing salt over the left shoulder is seen to insure the person against misfortune. Evil spirits are said to lurk on the left side and throwing salt at them blinds them and prevents them working evil. Oddly enough in Denmark it is seen as lucky to spill dry salt and unlucky to spill wet. In America it is said that every grain of salt split means a day of sorrow, it is however possible to avoid tears if the salt is gathered and thrown over a hot stove which dries the tears.