As we're discussing New Years food traditions, it made me think of other
food customs out there. I grew up in a family with many assorted
superstitions. For example-
"Never lay the bread upside down or the baker will get a tummy ache"
Then there was the always creepy "Don't eat too much cheese or you'll
get worms"
Of course there is the well known the "Never give a knife or scissors as
a gift or you'll cut the friendship"....and we always paid a penny
(often provided) for that type of gift.
So do you have any superstitions to share?

On Tue, 26 Dec 2006 23:49:21 -0500, Goomba38 >
wrote:

>Of course there is the well known the "Never give a knife or scissors as
>a gift or you'll cut the friendship"....and we always paid a penny
>(often provided) for that type of gift.

I'd never heard of that before I was part of my husband's family for
many years. I didn't know the superstition was that prevalent until
now!

--
See return address to reply by email

Goomba38 wrote:
>
> As we're discussing New Years food traditions, it made me think of other
> food customs out there. I grew up in a family with many assorted
> superstitions. For example-
> "Never lay the bread upside down or the baker will get a tummy ache"
> Then there was the always creepy "Don't eat too much cheese or you'll
> get worms"
> Of course there is the well known the "Never give a knife or scissors as
> a gift or you'll cut the friendship"....and we always paid a penny
> (often provided) for that type of gift.
> So do you have any superstitions to share?

I've never heard of any of those - very interesting. Of course, there
are the usual - a black cat crossing one's path, walking beneath a
ladder, breaking mirrors, and such. I'm sure there are more.

Sky

Goomba38 wrote:

> As we're discussing New Years food traditions, it made me think of other
> food customs out there. I grew up in a family with many assorted
> superstitions. For example-
> "Never lay the bread upside down or the baker will get a tummy ache"
> Then there was the always creepy "Don't eat too much cheese or you'll
> get worms"
> Of course there is the well known the "Never give a knife or scissors as
> a gift or you'll cut the friendship"....and we always paid a penny
> (often provided) for that type of gift.
> So do you have any superstitions to share?

"Don't eat the canned goods with the bulging lids or you might die"

Kathleen
(Who believes it)

"Goomba38" > wrote in message
. ..
> As we're discussing New Years food traditions, it made me think of other
> food customs out there. I grew up in a family with many assorted
> superstitions. For example-
> "Never lay the bread upside down or the baker will get a tummy ache"
> Then there was the always creepy "Don't eat too much cheese or you'll get
> worms"
> Of course there is the well known the "Never give a knife or scissors as a
> gift or you'll cut the friendship"....and we always paid a penny (often
> provided) for that type of gift.
> So do you have any superstitions to share?

From grandma,
"Ingesting eggshells can give you appendicitis."

Joseph Wailand wrote:

>
> "Goomba38" > wrote in message
> . ..
>> As we're discussing New Years food traditions, it made me think
>> of other food customs out there. I grew up in a family with
>> many assorted superstitions. For example-
>> "Never lay the bread upside down or the baker will get a tummy
>> ache" Then there was the always creepy "Don't eat too much
>> cheese or you'll get worms"
>> Of course there is the well known the "Never give a knife or
>> scissors as a gift or you'll cut the friendship"....and we
>> always paid a penny (often provided) for that type of gift.
>> So do you have any superstitions to share?
>
> From grandma,
> "Ingesting eggshells can give you appendicitis."

When I was a kid in the '50s (USA), I was told that swallowed gum
collects in your appendix.

--
Blinky
http://blinkynet.net

Skyhooks said...

> Goomba38 wrote:
>>
>> As we're discussing New Years food traditions, it made me think of other
>> food customs out there. I grew up in a family with many assorted
>> superstitions. For example-
>> "Never lay the bread upside down or the baker will get a tummy ache"
>> Then there was the always creepy "Don't eat too much cheese or you'll
>> get worms"
>> Of course there is the well known the "Never give a knife or scissors as
>> a gift or you'll cut the friendship"....and we always paid a penny
>> (often provided) for that type of gift.
>> So do you have any superstitions to share?
>
> I've never heard of any of those - very interesting. Of course, there
> are the usual - a black cat crossing one's path, walking beneath a
> ladder, breaking mirrors, and such. I'm sure there are more.
>
> Sky


I forget but I think it was an r.f.c member who cautioned:

"Life is short. EAT DESSERT FIRST!"
--Unknown



Andy

Goomba38 wrote:
> As we're discussing New Years food traditions, it made me think of other
> food customs out there. I grew up in a family with many assorted
> superstitions. For example-
> "Never lay the bread upside down or the baker will get a tummy ache"
> Then there was the always creepy "Don't eat too much cheese or you'll
> get worms"
> Of course there is the well known the "Never give a knife or scissors as
> a gift or you'll cut the friendship"....and we always paid a penny
> (often provided) for that type of gift.
> So do you have any superstitions to share?

The best known superstition is probably the one about Spilled Salt.

As far as the Upside Down Bread is concerned, in our family it was not
the Baker who would get a tummy ache, it was the Bread itself that was
insulted and nobody wanted to take a chance on hurting the feelings of
The Staff Of Life. Thus, before putting it back in the right
position, you either apologized or kissed it.

Margaret Suran said...

>
>
> Goomba38 wrote:
>> As we're discussing New Years food traditions, it made me think of other
>> food customs out there. I grew up in a family with many assorted
>> superstitions. For example-
>> "Never lay the bread upside down or the baker will get a tummy ache"
>> Then there was the always creepy "Don't eat too much cheese or you'll
>> get worms"
>> Of course there is the well known the "Never give a knife or scissors as
>> a gift or you'll cut the friendship"....and we always paid a penny
>> (often provided) for that type of gift.
>> So do you have any superstitions to share?
>
> The best known superstition is probably the one about Spilled Salt.
>
> As far as the Upside Down Bread is concerned, in our family it was not
> the Baker who would get a tummy ache, it was the Bread itself that was
> insulted and nobody wanted to take a chance on hurting the feelings of
> The Staff Of Life. Thus, before putting it back in the right
> position, you either apologized or kissed it.


Margaret,

That reminds me of two kitchen superstitions:

Tossing some remainder of salt over your shoulder.

and maybe

Tossing a strand of spaghetti up to the ceiling to check for doneness.

Andy

Andy wrote:
> Margaret Suran said...
>
>
>>
>>The best known superstition is probably the one about Spilled Salt.

>
> Margaret,
>
> That reminds me of two kitchen superstitions:
>
> Tossing some remainder of salt over your shoulder.
>
> and maybe
>
> Tossing a strand of spaghetti up to the ceiling to check for doneness.
>
> Andy

Andy, The Tossing The Salt Over One's Shoulder is the one I referred to.

Here is my very own, somewhat OT superstition:

If the Chuckle Of The Day is a happy one, the rest of the day will be
happy, as well.

Look at what an onus this puts on you. )

Margaret Suran said...

>
>
> Andy wrote:
>> Margaret Suran said...
>>
>>
>>>
>>>The best known superstition is probably the one about Spilled Salt.
>
>>
>> Margaret,
>>
>> That reminds me of two kitchen superstitions:
>>
>> Tossing some remainder of salt over your shoulder.
>>
>> and maybe
>>
>> Tossing a strand of spaghetti up to the ceiling to check for doneness.
>>
>> Andy
>
> Andy, The Tossing The Salt Over One's Shoulder is the one I referred to.

WHOA, a superstition with a name?!?!? That's a first!


> Here is my very own, somewhat OT superstition:
>
> If the Chuckle Of The Day is a happy one, the rest of the day will be
> happy, as well.
>
> Look at what an onus this puts on you. )

<Chuckle> <Hugs>

Andy

"Goomba38" > wrote in message
. ..
> As we're discussing New Years food traditions, it made me think of other
> food customs out there. I grew up in a family with many assorted
> superstitions. For example-
> "Never lay the bread upside down or the baker will get a tummy ache"
> Then there was the always creepy "Don't eat too much cheese or you'll get
> worms"
> Of course there is the well known the "Never give a knife or scissors as a
> gift or you'll cut the friendship"....and we always paid a penny (often
> provided) for that type of gift.
> So do you have any superstitions to share?

I grew up with the custom of handing over a penny if given a knife or
scissors.

Also - if you spill salt, toss a pinch over your shoulder or you'll have bad
luck.

Dora

I forgot! "Too much vinegar will dry your blood."

Dora

Joseph Wailand wrote:

> From grandma,
> "Ingesting eggshells can give you appendicitis."
>
>
I thought it was swallowing your gum caused appendicitis?? LOL

limey wrote:

> I grew up with the custom of handing over a penny if given a knife or
> scissors.
>
> Also - if you spill salt, toss a pinch over your shoulder or you'll have bad
> luck.
>
> Dora

Yeah, my father was always tossing salt around his shoulders. I'd
forgotten that before. So many times he would perform certain actions
without really commenting on what he was doing or why that they became
part of his image in my mind.
Sitting at the dinner table, 7 of us, I know he would often grumble and
point the evil eye at someone as he was being stern. Perhaps a warning
or just teasing...?

In article >, goomba38
@comcast.net says...
> So do you have any superstitions to share?
>
>

Does "no meat on Fridays" qualify?

How about the myriad dictates of Kashrut?

Bob

Goomba38 > wrote in message
. ..
> "Superstitions?"
> Of course there is the well known the "Never give a
> knife or scissors as a gift or you'll cut the friendship"
> ...and we always paid a penny (often provided) for
> that type of gift.

I've never heard of this one... And my Sainted Mother(tm) knew a lot
of them... What's the penny signify?

Her favorite was if she spilled salt, tossing a "pinch" over her
shoulder into the demon's eyes. As she got older, that pinch became
much more pronounced.

Another was when she had to collect a fresh chicken (or three) from
Gma's chicken coop... Once caught, she'd thank the chicken for
"willingly providing" for our feast, ring its neck, and have Little
Brother and me clean the damned thing.

The Ranger

Steve Wertz > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 26 Dec 2006 23:49:21 -0500, Goomba38 wrote:
> > So do you have any superstitions to share?
> >
> Never offer whipped cream during a bad date.

Nah... That'll help turn a bad date good.

The Ranger

"The Ranger" > wrote

> I've never heard of this one... And my Sainted Mother(tm) knew a lot
> of them... What's the penny signify?

That it's not a gift, you are paying for the knife. I gave knives
to a friend at her bridal shower (they were on her list) and
I had the gift wrapper tape shiny pennies to the blades so she
could pay me.

nancy

If the woman's on top, you get a girl.
If she's on the bottom, you get a boy......


<rj>

Steve Wertz > wrote in message
...
[snip]
> I had first written "ugly date"
[snip]

The difference between "ugh-lee" and bad is simply the level of
alcohol you'd need to consume...

The "No personal experiences either way" Ranger

Goomba38 wrote:
> limey wrote:
>
> > I grew up with the custom of handing over a penny if given a knife or
> > scissors.
> >
> > Also - if you spill salt, toss a pinch over your shoulder or you'll have bad
> > luck.
> >
> > Dora
>
> Yeah, my father was always tossing salt around his shoulders. I'd
> forgotten that before. So many times he would perform certain actions
> without really commenting on what he was doing or why that they became
> part of his image in my mind.
> Sitting at the dinner table, 7 of us, I know he would often grumble and
> point the evil eye at someone as he was being stern. Perhaps a warning
> or just teasing...?

Goomba38 wrote:
> limey wrote:
>
> > I grew up with the custom of handing over a penny if given a knife or
> > scissors.
> >
> > Also - if you spill salt, toss a pinch over your shoulder or you'll have bad
> > luck.
> >
> > Dora
>
> Yeah, my father was always tossing salt around his shoulders. I'd
> forgotten that before. So many times he would perform certain actions
> without really commenting on what he was doing or why that they became
> part of his image in my mind.
> Sitting at the dinner table, 7 of us, I know he would often grumble and
> point the evil eye at someone as he was being stern. Perhaps a warning
> or just teasing...?

Goomba38 wrote:
> As we're discussing New Years food traditions, it made me think of other
> food customs out there. I grew up in a family with many assorted
> superstitions. For example-
> "Never lay the bread upside down or the baker will get a tummy ache"
> Then there was the always creepy "Don't eat too much cheese or you'll
> get worms"
> Of course there is the well known the "Never give a knife or scissors as
> a gift or you'll cut the friendship"....and we always paid a penny
> (often provided) for that type of gift.
> So do you have any superstitions to share?

In the Italian/Sicilian culture, the evil eye will sour milk, both
dairy mothers'
Another one I liked was if you found a burnt piece of garlic in the
sauce it was good luck, same in Mexico, a piece of burnt tortilla does
it for you. but your have to eat it to bring it on.

On 27 Dec 2006 08:52:46 GMT, Blinky the Shark >
wrote:

>
>When I was a kid in the '50s (USA), I was told that swallowed gum
>collects in your appendix.

Well, you were told wrong.
They stick to your ribs.



--
See return address to reply by email

On Wed, 27 Dec 2006 12:14:17 -0500, "Nancy Young" >
wrote:
>
>"The Ranger" > wrote
>
>> I've never heard of this one... And my Sainted Mother(tm) knew a lot
>> of them... What's the penny signify?
>
>That it's not a gift, you are paying for the knife. I gave knives
>to a friend at her bridal shower (they were on her list) and
>I had the gift wrapper tape shiny pennies to the blades so she
>could pay me.
>
It has something to do with the sharp edge of the knife cutting
friendship. I don't know what a symbolic purchase has to do with not
cutting friendship, but that's the way the superstition goes.

--
See return address to reply by email

<sf> wrote

> On Wed, 27 Dec 2006 12:14:17 -0500, "Nancy Young" >
> wrote:
>>
>>"The Ranger" > wrote
>>
>>> I've never heard of this one... And my Sainted Mother(tm) knew a lot
>>> of them... What's the penny signify?
>>
>>That it's not a gift, you are paying for the knife. I gave knives
>>to a friend at her bridal shower (they were on her list) and
>>I had the gift wrapper tape shiny pennies to the blades so she
>>could pay me.
>>
> It has something to do with the sharp edge of the knife cutting
> friendship. I don't know what a symbolic purchase has to do with not
> cutting friendship, but that's the way the superstition goes.

Because you didn't give them a sharp object, they bought it
from you.

nancy

On 27 Dec 2006 10:41:52 -0800, wrote:

>In the Italian/Sicilian culture, the evil eye will sour milk, both
>dairy mothers'

What is this evil eye thing? I've always heard about it, but would
have no idea if someone was giving it to me or not. How could I tell?
Is it that two fingered thing (forefinger and little finger)?

--
See return address to reply by email

"Steve Wertz" > wrote

> I had first written "ugly date" but that little Angel on my
> shoulder told me not to. He's now been replaced by a little red
> dude with a pitchfork.

So what are you saying, you go on blind dates? Or you ask
people out when you're plastered and you think they look good.

nancy

In article >,
"The Ranger" > wrote:

> Goomba38 > wrote in message
> . ..
> > "Superstitions?"
> > Of course there is the well known the "Never give a
> > knife or scissors as a gift or you'll cut the friendship"
> > ...and we always paid a penny (often provided) for
> > that type of gift.
>
> I've never heard of this one... And my Sainted Mother(tm) knew a lot
> of them... What's the penny signify?

That it was not a gift. The recipient has to give the giver money --
that makes it a purchase. Can't get much smaller than a penny.

> The Ranger


--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
"Maligning an individual says more about you than the one you malign."

http://web.mac.com/barbschaller - blahblahblog -
12/23, stupid cookies
http://jamlady.eboard.com
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/amytaylor

Goomba38 wrote:

> So do you have any superstitions to share?

These were my grandmothers (who grew up n NYC during the Depression)

Never eat a banana at night--you'll get nightmares.

Never drink the water out of the bathroom sink.

In article >,
Goomba38 > wrote:
> Sitting at the dinner table, 7 of us, I know he would often grumble and
> point the evil eye at someone as he was being stern. Perhaps a warning
> or just teasing...?

Is the Evil Eye the same thing as The Look?
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
"Maligning an individual says more about you than the one you malign."

http://web.mac.com/barbschaller - blahblahblog -
12/23, stupid cookies
http://jamlady.eboard.com
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/amytaylor

On Wed, 27 Dec 2006 15:07:23 -0600, Melba's Jammin'
> wrote:

>In article >,
> Goomba38 > wrote:
>> Sitting at the dinner table, 7 of us, I know he would often grumble and
>> point the evil eye at someone as he was being stern. Perhaps a warning
>> or just teasing...?
>
>Is the Evil Eye the same thing as The Look?

Man, oh man, my mom has MEAN one of those! To this day, and I'm
nearly 47, she can stop me in my tracks with that look!

TammyM

ObFood: pot roast for dinner tonight, along with some spaetzle, and a
nice big spinach salad

"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
news
>
> "The Ranger" > wrote
>
>> I've never heard of this one... And my Sainted Mother(tm) knew a lot
>> of them... What's the penny signify?
>
> That it's not a gift, you are paying for the knife. I gave knives
> to a friend at her bridal shower (they were on her list) and
> I had the gift wrapper tape shiny pennies to the blades so she
> could pay me.
>
> nancy

The reason I was given as a kid was that if you didn't pay the penny, the
friendship/relationship/family tie would be cut!

Dora

No swimming until thirty minutes after you eat!
Make a wish when you eat the point of a piece of pie.

Tara

Nancy Young wrote:
> "The Ranger" > wrote
>
>> I've never heard of this one... And my Sainted Mother(tm) knew a lot
>> of them... What's the penny signify?
>
> That it's not a gift, you are paying for the knife. I gave knives
> to a friend at her bridal shower (they were on her list) and
> I had the gift wrapper tape shiny pennies to the blades so she
> could pay me.
>
Same with luggage, purses, wallets and the like. They're given with a
coin inside so that they'll never be empty.
I feel very strongly about that one, as did my parents before me. I gave
my daughter luggage this year and each piece contained a 10 pfennig
coin. She won't accidentally spend it and leave the luggage empty then.

<RJ> wrote:
> If the woman's on top, you get a girl.
> If she's on the bottom, you get a boy......
>
>
> <rj>

While my original intent was *food related* superstitions.. I recall
reading about the momma to be eating bananas for one gender desired, and
something different if they wanted the other gender baby. Does that ring
any bells with anyone?

sf wrote:
> On 27 Dec 2006 10:41:52 -0800, wrote:
>
>> In the Italian/Sicilian culture, the evil eye will sour milk, both
>> dairy mothers'
>
> What is this evil eye thing? I've always heard about it, but would
> have no idea if someone was giving it to me or not. How could I tell?
> Is it that two fingered thing (forefinger and little finger)?
>
lol, not to be confused with the good ole "Hook 'em Horns!" sign of
which I'm more fond being from a good Longhorn family.

The evil eye, mal occhio, (sounds like "malorca" as my father said it)
as I was taught was almost like an evil Nonna who could be jealous and
vindictive. You didn't want to incite her jealousy, so you don't fawn
over babies too loudly or do anything (which varied depending on the
mood of my father) that would bring you to "her" attention.

Melba's Jammin' wrote:
> In article >,
> Goomba38 > wrote:
>> Sitting at the dinner table, 7 of us, I know he would often grumble and
>> point the evil eye at someone as he was being stern. Perhaps a warning
>> or just teasing...?
>
> Is the Evil Eye the same thing as The Look?

nooooooo, "the Look" ..as perfected by mothers, has much more potential
for pain.. lol

Steve Wertz wrote:

> I sometimes go out with women who I'm not romantically interested
> in - just as friends. Some are pretty, some aren't exactly.
> Either way, I wouldn't bring up any whipped cream conversations.
>
> -sw
My husband would joke about "two baggers"....you've heard of those types
before right?