Category Archives: Folk Beliefs

Superstition

Nationality: African-American, White
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Moreno Valley, CA
Performance Date: April 18, 2008
Primary Language: English

Superstition

If you drop salt you throw it over your left shoulder.

Jasmine learned this proverb from her mother and she said it was practiced by other members of her family. She is not quite sure of its origination or meaning. She said, “All I know is that it means bad luck if salt is dropped and not thrown over your shoulder”. This superstition would occur whenever you drop salt, whether it is in the kitchen, at a dining table, or out to eat, one is always supposed to throw it over your shoulder. Jasmine was not sure what shoulder one should throw it over, but she said that she usually throws it over her left shoulder. This superstition is also found in Western Folklore and 101 American Superstitions.

Because Jasmine new very little about the meaning and purpose behind throwing salt over her left shoulder, I decided to do a further investigation. I found out that throwing salt over your shoulder comes from biblical practices in early Christianity as well as Buddhist tradition. In the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 7 it mentions this proverb. Salt, during the biblical period was considered a valued commodity; it was expensive, crucial in preserving food, and was often used as a mode of currency. Therefore when one dropped salt it was almost considered to be a sacrilegious offense, and would then be left in the hands of the devil. Therefore, throwing the salt over one’s shoulder was a way of warding off the devil. The salt is either intended to blind the devil so he can’t witness your error, or keep him from sneaking up on you while you’re cleaning up your mess.

The reason behind throwing the salt over the left shoulder is because in many ancient traditions the devil is always seen to be placed to the left. For example, the classic image of a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other often shows the devil sitting on the left side. After looking at a Christian point of view I also found this superstition in Buddhist traditions as well. Buddhist also believe that throwing salt over one’s left shoulder is a way of repelling evil spirits. I am aware there are most likely many other various meanings of this proverb that I have not addressed in this analysis, however, knowing just these two helped me grasp a better understanding of why people considered dropped salt as bad luck.

Annotation:

Collis, Harry. 101 American Superstitions. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies, 1998. 43-50.

Hines, Donald M. Superstitions from Oregon. Western Folklore, Vol. 24, No. 1. (Jan., 1965), pp. 7-20 (article consist of 14 pages). Western States Folklore Society.

Superstition

Nationality: African-American
Age: 38
Occupation: USC Administrator
Residence: Newark, NJ
Performance Date: April 29, 2008
Primary Language: English

Conversion Superstition:

Don’t split the pole; it is considered bad luck. If you split a pole then you have to say bread and butter.

This superstition can also be found in Eleanor Tate’s children’s book Don’t Split the Pole (See Annotation). Kim remembers learning this superstition when she was a little girl. She was not sure where she learned the proverb from, but she says it most likely came from her mother who has taught her most of the superstitions she’s familiar of. She said, splitting a pole means if two people are walking by a pole, they are not supposed to walk by opposite sides of the pole. Both persons should walk on one side of the pole. If they were to separate and walk on opposite sides, they would have to say bread and butter in order to rid themselves of bad luck. She has no idea why they would have to say the words, she said, “I would just do it.”

Kim’s interpretation is familiar to what many believe this superstition to be. This superstition is well-known amongst many different families and cultures. One type of bad luck that is commonly known to result in the splitting of a pole is destroying or “splitting up” a friendship. However, there is no one fixed meaning for this superstition. I am unsure of the reason why “bread and butter” is used get rid of the bad luck. I have personally come across a different version of “undoing” the bad luck after two people have split a pole. I leaned that if you spin around three times you will rid yourself of bad luck. The number three could be because of the significance of the trinity in Christianity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost). The spinning could symbolize the practice of God covering your mishap.

Annotation:

Tate, Eleanora. Don’t Split the Pole. New York, NY: Yearling (Random House Children’s Books), 1999.

Folk Belief – Greek

Nationality: Greek, Native-American
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Residence: Moorpark, CA
Performance Date: March 30, 2008
Primary Language: Spanish
Language: English

Greek: Mati

English:  Evil Eye

The Mati is known as the Evil Eye in Greek culture. This belief can also be found in Volume 8, No. 3 of the American Ethnologist. Nichelle’s interpretation states, “You would use this term when you want to explain an unknown disease, the bad luck of somebody, jealousy, or envy. If I said Oh Britt you look so pretty today” but I really didn’t mean to give that comment, I would inadvertently be giving you the evil eye. Children and teenagers are especially prone to this. In order to ward off the evil eye you make a sound of spitting: ‘too soo too soo too soo’ three times because of the importance of the trinity in Greek Orthodox religion (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). Spitting three times negates the praise of something bad. To ward of the evil eye from babies a pin that is shaped like an eye with a solid circle in the middle and a circle in the outside as shown in Figure 1 is pinned to the clothing. Other times people will make crosses of dirt. In order to find out if you have the evil eye you take a cup of water and pour three drops of olive oil into the cup of water. If drops mix with the water then you have the evil eye. Getting rid of the evil eye is a recognized phenomenon by the church. The priest takes a communion and prayers. Witch doctors are also used to rid a person from the evil eye. However, priests look down upon witch doctors because they believe that the Mati is a form of witchcraft that has originated from witch doctor practices.”

I do agree with the interpretation of Nichelle’s analysis of this certain Greek belief. This superstitious belief in the evil can be traced back to 300 B.C. Folklorist have claimed its origination to be in Sumeria. I do agree that the origin of its roots comes from social concerns of other people or from a fear of strangers. The “Mati” is a polygenetic piece of folklore. The evil eye is known to a variety of cultures. For example, the evil eye is known as ayin horeh in Hebrew; ayin harsha in Arabic, droch shuil in Scotland, mauvais oeil in France, bösen Blick in Germany, mal occhio in Italy and was known as oculus malus among the classical Romans. Each culture shares similar and different characteristics of warding off the evil eye. In Muslim tradition the evil eye will be warded off by quoting scriptures from the Koran, while in France the evil eye can be warded off by throwing dirt on a child who is praised.

I believe the evil eye can be used as a code of identity, showing who is and isn’t a part of a particular culture or who doesn’t fall within the acceptance of a particular individual. By identifying someone with the evil eye, I believe that you have branded that individual as someone who is not a part of the group and who must go through a certain process to become a part of the group.

Annotation

Herzfeld, Michael. Meaning and Morality: A Semiotic Approach to Evil Eye Accusations in a Greek Village. American Ethnologist, Vol. 8, No. 3, Symbolism and Cognition (Aug., 1981).pp 560-574. Blackwell Publishing on behalf of American Anthropological Association.

Folk Belief – Hong Kong, China

Nationality: Japanese
Age: 24
Occupation: Student
Residence: Oahu, Hawaii
Performance Date: April 15, 2008
Primary Language: English
Language: Japanese

“Never place your chopsticks in your bowl so that they stick out from the bottom. It brings bad luck; you should put them on top of your bowl lying horizontally or beside your bowl”

I had to be reminded by informant during many meal times. The bad luck that this action brings is death upon yourself or your family. This superstition is important to the informant as she had learned it from her parents and everyone in her culture knows not to do this and considers it common practice. Only people who are completely out of touch with any Asian culture would be unaware of this superstition. As I learned about this practice in Hong Kong, it must be emphasized that this practice is prevalent in all of Asia, or most likely, any country where chopsticks are used during mealtimes. My informant tells me that the placing of the chopsticks into a food bowl, resembles the Buddhist practice of placing incense sticks into sand pits at altars, shrines and graves. Therefore, in mimicking that tradition which is only to be carried out in a religious and spiritual context, i.e. when offerings are made, you are invoking evil spirits who would in turn bring harm to you. I find this very important because I have never been able to drop this practice ever since. Although I do not do it out of superstition, I have adopted this habit merely to be respectful to others around me. This thus would bring a new meaning as to why I carry out a certain practice compared with someone else.

Superstition – South East Asia

Nationality: Singaporean
Age: 41
Residence: Singapore
Performance Date: February 20, 2008
Primary Language: English
Language: Tamil

“You should never buy religious antique statues because spirits are trapped inside of them and bring misfortune to your home”

A found this superstition very relevant in that it has become a practice that I have, since hearing this adopted. According to my informant, the spirits trapped within these religious antiquities can haunt your house and be responsible for slow and painful destruction of your life. They are believed to bring great illnesses or misfortune to the family. They can apparently also constantly build obstacles that prevent you from being successful financially and personally. To the informant this is extremely important as she incorporates this into her daily life, and thus uses it all the time. She only buys imitations of antique statues such as Buddha sculptures, and other religious figures. I consider this personally important because I know that it is a prevalent superstition within South East Asia.