THE SUPERSTITION OF SPILLING SALT
1 Variations of salt superstitions are to be found in many countries today. The reason for its importance dates back to the dim past. Then the old alchemists believed that salt was an incorruptible element, unchangeable and unalterable, so it came to be a symbol of peace and friendship. Orginally, salt spilled on the table betokened a quarrel. To break the spell the person nearest to the spilled salt threw a little over his left shoulder. Tile left-shoulder version is still popular in England, but in Holland it is tossed straight over the spiller’s head. The gipsies in Rumania sprinkle the ground around a camping place with salt to bring them prosperity.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19390923.2.95
Bibliographic details
Southland Times, Issue 23930, 23 September 1939, Page 13
Word Count
117THE SUPERSTITION OF SPILLING SALT Southland Times, Issue 23930, 23 September 1939, Page 13
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Southland Times. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in