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Superstition ain't the way

I'm not a superstitious kind of person. Which I think is a good thing, because I've got an inbox full of emails about food superstitions ahead of Chinese New Year beginning this week.

And if I believed them, on Wednesday, Chinese New Year's Day, I'd have to clean the flat, shoot firecrackers, open all the windows and doors, pay my debts, try not to cry or swear for an entire day, have greasy hair, sit out in the living room and socialise, and refrain from using knives or scissors. Which would be a shame as on Wednesday's I like to cut out shapes while bawling in my messy bedroom. Doesn't everyone?

How many times has your roast chicken's wishbone been set aside for some pinky tug of war?

But it's not just the Chinese who are superstitious. We all know it's bad luck to spill salt, and if you do so you should throw it over your left shoulder. How many times has your roast chicken's wishbone been set aside for some pinky tug of war? And we throw rice at a wedding not just because it's cheaper than confetti, but because it's meant to bring prosperity, wealth, and happiness to the couple. Personally I think throwing wads of cash would be more effective.

A trawl through Google reveals some slightly more disturbing food superstitions too. Finding a hole in a loaf of bread apparently symbolises a coffin and means that someone is soon to die. And maybe think twice about cutting noodles as some Chinese cultures believe this will cut your life short too.

Me? I'm still not convinced, but perhaps I'll buy my bread ready sliced and noodles as long and robust as shoelaces in 2011. Life is already quite hazardous enough.

Do you believe in any food superstitions or has good (or bad) luck befallen you - co-incidentally or not - after following or breaking one? Share your stories and have a happy Chinese New Year!

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