Salt and Severence...

Xerxes · 13th May 2001, 00:07

Just wanted to say something about the practice of throwing salt over the shoulder after spilling it- I remember reading that it dates all the way back to the Roman empire.
At that time, salt was an extremely valuable commodity and very expensive. Thus the act of spilling it at the table was a very grave misfortune- possibly brought on by an evil or malicious spirit creature. Throwing it over the shoulder was appeasing the spirit that might cause it again.

As time changed the supertstition later became "appeasing the devil" when everyone stopped being pagan.

Interesting? yes. Useless information, yeah probably

gremmlin · 13th May 2001, 02:25

Yeah, but people don't actually do that anymore, do they? I've never seen somebody do it in real life. Not here in the afluent suburbs! What are we, plebians?

s1138 · 13th May 2001, 02:29

i like to take the little packs of salt and throw them at people, and yell "YOU HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED"

get it?

chiquita chad · 13th May 2001, 03:02

i steal the salt shaker from a whole bunch of McDonald's i have visited during my college road trips... i have like 50

13th May 2001, 00:07	#1
Xerxes Capitalist Alumni Join Date: May 2000 Location: my 4 Houses on Park Place Posts: 8,687	Just wanted to say something about the practice of throwing salt over the shoulder after spilling it- I remember reading that it dates all the way back to the Roman empire. At that time, salt was an extremely valuable commodity and very expensive. Thus the act of spilling it at the table was a very grave misfortune- possibly brought on by an evil or malicious spirit creature. Throwing it over the shoulder was appeasing the spirit that might cause it again. As time changed the supertstition later became "appeasing the devil" when everyone stopped being pagan. Interesting? yes. Useless information, yeah probably Now is the time for all good Americans to come to the aid of their Country

13th May 2001, 02:25	#2
gremmlin Senior Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Illadelph Suburbia Posts: 292	Yeah, but people don't actually do that anymore, do they? I've never seen somebody do it in real life. Not here in the afluent suburbs! What are we, plebians? "Revolution begins with the self, in the self" Toni Cade Bambara

13th May 2001, 03:02	#4
chiquita chad Forum King Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 2,391	i steal the salt shaker from a whole bunch of McDonald's i have visited during my college road trips... i have like 50 Artist Track

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

13th May 2001, 02:29	#3
s1138 Alumni? Join Date: May 2000 Location: joja Posts: 6,936	i like to take the little packs of salt and throw them at people, and yell "YOU HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED" get it?