Most Common Superstitions in the World

Spilling Salt

Spilling salt may have been more of a manners issue than a bad luck issue... and then the superstition became habit. Long ago, salt was an expensive commodity, and one that had many useful purposes. Wasting salt was frowned upon, and so it is suggested that people just started saying it was bad luck so they would be more careful with it. So now you have this "throw salt over your shoulder" to undo the bad luck... but not just any shoulder you have to throw it over your left shoulder. Why left? You throw it over the left shoulder because in some Christians believe the Devil hangs about over the left side of the body, looking for an opportunity to invade.   Another thought as to why spilling salt is bad is linked to the last supper. In Da Vinci's painting Judas is seen spilling the salt, so if you spill the salt you might as well just go turn in your best friend so they can be executed.