Interesting folk legends of our usual food

Probably not all of us thought about where originates one or another product. What's his story? Where it was used? whether it protects from evil spirits? And much more. In fact, the ancient peoples had their own rituals and beliefs about a particular product or spices.

All of them are very interesting and exciting. Today we have decided to share with our dear readers that is, in fact, hiding behind some of the products that are in our fridge, as well as in what is their history, when viewed from the side of mysticism.

Salt

In many cultures around the world the salt is considered to be a symbol of purity, as well as the food product that can ward off evil spirits from both the man and his house and livestock. In European folklore salt is often used to keep witches at bay, while the people of Quebec believed that if salt is sprinkled on the threshold, then this action will scare Ľutina - mischievous demons that often frighten horses and humans. Salt also plays an important role in the Jewish and Christian traditions, and modern church supporters see it as one of many tools to deal with Satan himself.

salt effect is very often mentioned in the Bible. Buddhist and Shinto have similar views on the effectiveness of the food product in terms of the fight against evil forces. Many modern Okinawans bless the new cars with the help of salt, and in addition to this, take along some packets of the substance to protect yourself and your vehicle. After the terrible terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, the military became very carefully checked cars of local employees and are there bags with a white substance. In most cases, the "mysterious" white powder was seen by the military as a possible threat of terrorist attack, in spite of local customs.

For a tribe of Indians that lived in the south-west of America, one of the most important and revered deities was the so-called Mother Sol, which lived at the bottom of the sacred lake of Zuni. According to the local legends, before the lake was much closer to human settlements, but, offended by the Indians, Mother moved its salt lake in the distant place. Because of this, local residents had to travel long distances to get some salt from the lake, so the Indians began to pray to the goddess that she suddenly obdelat them again and drained the lake in general.

potato

The usual potatoes, which we'll eat almost every day, the Europeans once perceived with suspicion and thought that strange vegetable, imported from across the ocean, has a strange mystical properties. In the end, the Europeans decided that potatoes can cajole, and then it will have a miraculous healing effect.

POTATOES tried to treat rheumatism, stomach pain, asthma, colds, and some women even used potatoes to prevent miscarriage. Similar beliefs existed in North America, where potatoes were placed under the pillow so she could help the couple to conceive a child quickly. There's also believed that if worn in the pockets of three potatoes, then hemorrhoids miraculously heal itself.

Butter

According to Irish folklore, some people in the villages can enter into very real deal with the devil to steal butter from their neighbors. The victim of the curse may be long hours whipping cream in a churn, but instead of the promised oil damn unlucky farmer will receive only disgusting smelly muck. The main sign that your beloved oil a curse, is that one day you suddenly find yourself on the verge of a little oil or fat.

In order to get rid of the curse, it was necessary to heat the red-hot poker, and several times to call feature. It was believed that after the oil thief unwittingly come to your house and reveal itself. Historians believe that the magic of oil theft was quite a serious problem in medieval Ireland, and here are the tricks of the neighborhood could easily lead to a rather harsh judgment.

cucumber

Cucumber regularly pop up in different folk legends and tales around the world. As a rule, this simple vegetable curious form is considered something of a symbol of fertility (can guess why). In ancient Rome women wore a belt cucumbers to contribute to early pregnancy. Medieval Germans believed that in order to harvest cucumbers turned out good, sow them was a naked man in the afternoon. In this case, the longer was the "cucumber" of the sower, the more good beautiful cucumbers grow in his garden.

An interesting legend about cucumbers found in Japan. The Japanese believe in the existence of a certain evil demon named Kappa, who brazenly raped respectable women. Satiate the appetites of sexual demon and drive him away from his home it was only possible with the help of a rather unusual offerings as a sprinkling of human blood cucumber.