this post was submitted on 23 Jun 2023
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I wonder why this is such a prevalent superstition. Salt as a means of purification is a big thing in Japanese culture and Shintoism as well. That’s why the sumo wrestlers throw salt over their shoulders before they run at each other. A lot of restaurants have little bowls of salt at their front door too and sprinkle on the sidewalk to ward off bad luck.
I know a few grannies who throw salt outside the front door when they’ve had a visitor that they did like/didn’t want to come back
Agree it's pretty universal. Wicca uses salt a lot to reset to neutral status, religiously speaking.
The devil reportedly sits on your right shoulder, so you are throwing salt in his eyes so he doesn't steal your soul.
I thought the devil sat on your left?
Ah shit I meant left. Why did I say right? I mean why did I write right? Brain fart moment, thanks for the correcto!
Without looking it up I'm gonna assume it has to do with salt once being a precious commodity so using it to ward of evil spirits would be like giving it all you've got. 🤷♀️