Food beliefs are not limited to the kitchen. Ancient Egyptians believed onions kept evil spirits away. When they took an oath, they placed one hand on an onion. Can you see this in a modern courtroom?

Throwing rice at a wedding is a superstitious tradition believed to bring prosperity, happiness and wealth to the couple. If you think about it, with the amount of money people spend on weddings nowadays, would it not be more sensible to throw cash at the newlyweds, rather than rice?

Food and dining have long been the source of countless beliefs and superstitions. If you think about it, perhaps this is because food is so closely related to human relations. Food preparation and consumption are a process, one that demands rules (do not open the oven door before the cake is baked or it will flatten) and decorum (hold your fork just so).

From proper food storage and preparation to table manners, food-related superstitions and beliefs abound. Some are based on fact: the cake will flatten if you open the oven door too soon. Others are based on accepted rules: clutching your fork with your fist simply does not look very distinguished. Others yet defeat explanation, but remain entertaining nonetheless.

Consider salt. We all know the one about throwing spilled salt over your left shoulder for good luck, but why salt and why the left shoulder? It was believed that evil spirits dwelt on the left-hand side of the body, thus by throwing spilled salt over your left shoulder you might actually throw it into the devil’s eyes. We continue this tradition to this day, almost automatically and often playfully. Surely the devil is nowhere near the kitchen and surely getting salt in his eyes might irritate rather than overpower him. But Granny digresses.

The ancient Greeks, famous for their lavish feasts, believed that due to its preservative abilities salt was the repository of life itself. They also believed it to be a symbol of friendship. Thus spilled salt foretold the end of a friendship. In Britain and Europe, country folks often carried a small salt pouch on their person for luck in their dealings. Incidentally, the word salary originated from the Latin, Salarium, which is the allowance given to Roman soldiers to purchase salt.

Other beliefs about food and dining defy explanation. “If you drop a knife on the floor, a man will knock at your door; if you drop a fork, it will be a woman.” Why not a stork for a fork? Should it not rhyme? Precisely; no rhyme or reason. Let us enjoy a few more.

“She that pricks bread with fork or knife will never be a happy maid or wife.” However, when peeling an apple in one continuous peel, a maiden should toss it over her shoulder, the peel that is. Upon landing on the floor, it will be the first letter of the name of the man she will marry.

When pouring tea, bubbles in your cup represent money, thus, “You’ve got money in your cup. Take your spoon and drink it up!” This one conjures up a funny memory. Granny had been invited to join a friend to lunch at the home of an elderly couple. She had never met these fine folks before, so she was on her best behavior. The conversation was light and cheerful. The woman did most of the talking. She was the lady of the house, after all. She served a deliciously aromatic soup.

Eating in good company, her husband seemed to relax a bit and began to join the conversation, but every time he raised his head from his bowl of soup to say a word his wife, who had up until this moment appeared good-natured, slammed her spoon down on the table and commanded, “Eat your soup!” A few more words from hubby… “Eat your soup!” One more attempt; he looked like he had something very interesting to share… “Eat your soup!” Granny lost her appetite on the spot. My friend seemed unperturbed. To this day, I almost believe they were putting on a show and enjoying the look on my face. I am certain they laughed uproariously when I left.

The table is the source of many beliefs and superstitions also. How about this one? When rising from the table, try to not move your chair, for this is a sure sign that you have lied at some time during conversation. Furthermore, to fold your napkin or place your chair back against the wall after a meal will prevent you from ever being a guest at that table again. Granny must have inadvertently folded her napkin or moved her chair at the soup luncheon, for she was indeed never invited again.

Perhaps the man was deaf and unaware of this belief, “If you are deaf, eating onions mixed with ant eggs will cure your deafness.” Now I wonder what was in the soup.