Why is Throwing Salt Over Your Shoulder Considered Good Luck?
Throwing a pinch of salt over your shoulder is an old superstition linked to preventing bad luck, Wiki How reported. Many cultures and people – chefs on television, your grandma, and even you – perform this ritual without necessarily understanding its origins.
Historically and Culturally Rooted
This tradition mainly stems from the belief that spilling salt is an invitation for bad luck or evil spirits. Throwing salt over the left shoulder, usually with the right hand, is thought to counteract this. The idea is to blind or repel these spirits from causing harm.
Symbolism in Christianity
One explanation tied to Christianity is that the devil resides behind the left shoulder. This is evident in Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper," where Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, knocked over a container of salt. Consequently, salt became associated with betrayal and evil. By throwing salt over the left shoulder, Christians believe they can blind the devil, averting malevolent influence.
Value and Etiquette in Ancient Times
In ancient times, salt was incredibly valuable, and often used as a currency. Spilling it was akin to wasting money, an act only attributed to evil's work. To avoid such a fate, people would throw a pinch over their left shoulder to detonate this negative energy.
Variations Across Cultures
Different cultures have variances in this practice. For instance, in Buddhism, throwing salt over the shoulder post-funeral rituals is customary to ward off spirits. Despite minor differences, the common thread across these cultures is using salt to protect against malevolent forces and bad luck.
Energy and Superstition
The left side of the body is often seen as the "receiving" side in terms of energy flow, which makes the left shoulder an apt choice for throwing salt to prevent negative energy or spirits from entering.
To protect yourself from the potential misfortunes invited by spilling salt, consider throwing a pinch over your left shoulder. This age-old tradition, rooted in various beliefs about salt’s value and its association with warding off evil, underscores the powerful symbolic role salt has played throughout history.
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