Superstition: Salt Over The Shoulder

Growing up in an Italian family I have heard many different superstitions, the most common was throwing salt over your shoulder. Until recently, I had no idea what the superstition was really about. The superstition states that if an individual spills salt, one should throw it over your left shoulder to erase the blunder. Throwing the salt over your shoulder will blind the devil and keep him from taking your soul. Salt was a very expensive and highly sought after product, preserving food and functioning as legal tender during ancient and biblical times. This reference came from the website (Daily Mail), which states that Leonardo da Vincis’ painting the Last Supper, may be inspiration for this scene. Since the scene illustrates Jesus Christ and his twelve apostles seated around a table, and Judas appears to have knocked over the salt, thus bringing forth the devil. According to (Angel Fire) another way the superstition may have come about is believed to have come from the Kabala. The Kabala says that there are three paths in life; the middle, which is the most common, the path to the right, which is the path of love and light, and the left side, is a path where one meets the devil and we learn our lessons. Whether the artist da Vinci, meant for art viewers to beware of the devil, by painting spilled salt near the man that would ultimately lead to the death of Christ, will always be unknown. Just like the Kabala’s belief about the three paths of life, will always be a part of their religious beliefs. The reason that this superstition has persisted may never be known, but I think it is safe to say that individuals get a sense of safety and security from this superstition. Dr. Stuart Vyse, author of Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition, believes that superstitions are an example of ‘magical thinking.’ The way a person feels about a superstition may be caused by a ‘placebo effect,’ if they want to feel good about a certain situation… they will.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1385380/Why-throw-salt-shoulder-superstitions-answered.html
http://www.angelfire.com/biz6/Psyteric/Kitmyths.html
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/psychology-of-superstition?page=2

Knocking On Wood

Ever been with someone or a group of friends and you or someone else says " I hope the Red Sox don't lose tonight?" or "I have not broken a bone yet?" and you knock on wood? Why do we rush and find the nearest piece of wood to knock our knuckles against?

Knocking on wood or touching wood supposedly will block off bad spirits or luck towards you and basically are tempting fate. There is no clear origin on where this old myth has originated from but there are numerous suggestions on how this superstition arose. Most say that it began over in Europe a few hundred years ago where they believed their gods or even mythical creatures such as fairies and leprechans lived in trees. People would communicate with them through the trees for good fortune. In some Chinese and Korean cultures, it is believed when the mother who is giving birth passes away, her spirit lives in the trees. There are even beliefs going as far back as to Greek mythology where Zeus believed that the oak was sacred.

There are stories about touching wood that have originated through religion as well. In Christianity their followers believe that the wooden cross is a symbol of good luck. Even in the Jewish religion during the Spanish Inquistion, people of Jewish faith fled to built wooden synagogues and had to knock to enter to remain safe and sound.

Even children's play games have origin about the touching of wood. The commmon game of tag, children will seek safety by touching a nearby tree for safety from being "it".There is even places where they sell touch rings (shown above) so when you are looking around to knock on some wood for luck, you do not need to. Whatever your reasoning is to knock or touch wood for good luck, there is a reason why we do it. The answer to why may be hard to research or investigate but as long as it keeps bringing you good luck in your life why question it?

Sources:

http://www.touchwoodrings.com/

www.unexplainedstuff.com