Food superstitions: true or false?

Salty tales
If you spill the salt, you must shake it over your shoulder to ward off bad luck.  Some say the left shoulder, others don’t specify. Take a look at Leonardo DaVinci’s painting of the last supper and note how Judas (the traitor) has spilled the salt. It’s said to be a portent of bad luck as it was in this biblical event and the only antidote is a flick of this treasured commodity over the shoulder to deter any would-be devils from stabbing you in the back. (credit: Getty Images)

Make a wish?

Everyone has had their dreams shattered by merely snapping the short end of the wishbone.  That celebratory ritual of setting aside the neck bone of a chicken or turkey and waiting for it to dry only to be snapped by feuding siblings does have a history. It was once believed that a goose had oracle powers and was therefore to be revered. The neck bone became a symbolic bit of the animal that was saved and wished upon.  Of course, geese have been replaced in modern times with any old fowl, chicken, turkey, and the occasional duck. The rules are that each person must only use a pinkie for pulling and the snap that happens will be uneven.  The longer end wins.  Which leads us to possible origins of the sayings: “shorter end of the stick” and “pinky swear”, all in one fell swoop. (credit: Getty Images)

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Pinky up
The Brits have several tea time tales. If tea leaves can tell the future, then everything else about tea will tell your luck. Drop a few leaves accidently and you will have good luck, scatter some on the front porch and you’ll ward off evil. Do not forget to put leaves in the pot before the water or you will surely suffer a bad omen (or at least a terrible ‘cuppa’). Apparently, pouring roughly is best because it causes bubbles to float to the top. And we all know that tea bubbles taken into the mouth by spoon are akin to money in your pocket.  Not convinced? At least you will have fun finding out.   (credit: Getty Images)