Very superstitious

Good Food Blog

What is RSS?

Posted at 12:02PM, 24 August 2009 by Stuart Walton - Food and wine writer

When I broke the yolk of my fried egg this morning (HOW annoying is that?), an old piece of folk wisdom came instantly to mind. 'Break the yolk and the day is broke.' It was the sort of saying our grandmothers dinned into us long before we had even tried cracking an egg for ourselves.

That something as central to our lives as food should have generated a whole series of popular beliefs and superstitions is hardly surprising. Some of the forms they have taken are rather unusual, though, and their logic may not always be apparent.

Most of us have thrown salt over our shoulders when spilling it, compounding our initial clumsiness by chucking some more on the host's carpet

Most of us, I bet, have thrown salt over our shoulders when spilling it, compounding our initial clumsiness by chucking some more on the host's carpet. What you are doing is blinding the Devil, who might just have been grinning over your shoulder as you inadvertently wasted one of life's more precious commodities. And who hasn't pulled a wishbone? It refers back to the Roman days of reading the future in a slaughtered bird's entrails (haruspicy, if anyone's asking).

Not just foods, but the means of eating them, have been shrouded with magical significance. Two spoons turning up one atop the other in a saucer betoken a marriage. Don't they look, after all, just like the happy couple will, once snuggled up in the conjugal bed? Knives are laden with meanings, mostly sinister. A pair of knives that become crossed should be quickly separated, in case they should prove symbolic of the crossing of swords, and 'stirring with a knife causes strife' - find one of those loved-up spoons to do the job instead.

Other food cultures are as rife with superstition as our own. The use of chopsticks is a minefield. To the Chinese, a pair of chopsticks carelessly laid across the top of an empty rice bowl is a portent of death, as is turning over a fish in the serving bowl (it suggests the capsizing of the fisherman's boat). Instead, the skeleton should be carefully removed after the top half has been eaten.

New Year's Eve is the most superstitious time of year for everybody. The Spanish custom of wolfing down a grape with each strike of the clock at midnight, in order to ensure plenty in each of the twelve months ahead, is good fun. I wouldn't say 'Nein' to the little marzipan pigs scoffed in Austria. I'm less sold on the Danish and northern German tradition of eating thickened stewed kale at New Year. I think I'd rather go without the luck. There's tempting fate for you.

What unusual food beliefs have you, or your senior relatives, come across?

Comments

Vic

24 August 2009, 4:49PM
Vic

A few have been handed down to me - thanks rellies! Never refuse a mince pie if offered one, and always eat one before Christmas Eve. Never give a knife or knives as a gift - it severs the friendship / relationship. Don't eat cheese before bedtime, as you'll have nightmares...

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
ediblewords

24 August 2009, 8:10PM
ediblewords

In Chinese tradition, when eating noodles, esp. longlife noodles on your birthday, don't cut or bite into them. Slurp the entire strand up or your life will be cut short!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
poppysuze

25 August 2009, 8:14AM
poppysuze

I remember as a child my Mom telling me never to refuse a mince pie before Christmas, cross a knife and fork on your dinner plate, always throw salt over your shoulder if spilt making a wish as you do. It was bad luck to have 2 teaspoons in your saucer and lastly when pouring a cup of tea if there are lots of bubbles on the top you are in for a pleasant surprise :o,)

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Emily

25 August 2009, 9:43AM
Emily

Uh oh... my boyfriend gave me a knife for Christmas!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
fiona

25 August 2009, 10:40AM
fiona

I've always been told never to stir tea in the pot - as you will stir in bad luck!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
miniminx

25 August 2009, 12:00PM
miniminx

stir the Christmas pud for luck. my mum always got me to do this when she made it around my birthday, in october. and here in scotland, you should first foot with coal, whisky and fruit cake (or sometimes shortbread) at hogmany to be sure you'll never be cold, hungry or thirsty in the new year.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
miniminx

25 August 2009, 12:01PM
miniminx

sorry - that should be so your HOSTS aren't cold, hungry or thirsty...:)

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
StuartWalton

25 August 2009, 2:15PM
StuartWalton

Not stirring the teapot sounds familiar now you mention it, Fiona. Poppysuze, my grandma used to insist those bubbles on the surface of the tea meant you would be coming into money (the more there were, the richer you'd be). Still waiting on that one... I confess I haven't heard the one about not refusing mince pies before Christmas, but I can't ever imagine doing anything so silly. As for that Christmas knife, Emily, if he's still your boyfriend eight months later, should we say that's a superstition disproved?

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Becks

7 September 2009, 11:14PM
Becks

My mum always tells me to make a wish when eating the first if anything seasonal of the year. So the first cherry, the first asparagus, mince pie etc. Not sure where she got that one from, but I still stick to it! I was also told that if someone gives you a knife you have to pay them for it with silver. In my case, this is usually a 10p. As if fate could be so easily fooled...

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:

Your binder

Here are three other great reasons to sign up:

You get an online binder, where you can store all your favourite recipes and create menus.
You can add your own recipes to this site for others to try; plus, rate and make comments on recipes, and share your views on our blog.
You can sign up for our weekly newsletter (sent out on Wednesdays) - it's packed with recipes, special offers and competitions.