in what country is spilling salt considered good luck (Austria, Japan,or Chile)?

Answer 1

The tradition for spilling salt exists in many countries in the world. It's originally considered to ward off evil or used for purification ritual, before later translated as 'bringing good luck'.

You'll find spilling salt in most western countries (especially countries with Germanic background) is connected to warding off the devil who is influencing you to do evil deeds. S/he whispered in your ear and you ward him/her off by spilling salt over your shoulder. In Japan, salt is one of many elements considered to have 'purification' abilties (The most common is actually water).

So my answer is Japan and Austria. Japan more than Austria, since this belief is still commonly practiced there.

Answer 2

Well, I live in Canada and it's an established superstition here that if you throw salt over your shoulder, it brings good luck. More specifically, I live in a French-speaking community in Nova Scotia, Eastern Canada.

I have even been to a rock concert in Montreal where band members sprinkled salt water around the perimeter of the stage, I assume to bring them good luck during the show.

I found a rather interesting reference as to its origins,
"The superstition that spilling salt brings bad luck may have its origins in Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper which depicts an overturned salt cellar in front of Judas Iscariot. The French believed that throwing a pinch of salt over the shoulder would hit the devil in the eye, preventing any further foul play." See link below if you want to check that out for yourself.

I hope this helps! I had no idea this salt superstition was as widespread as Japan, wow. Obviously, spilling salt IS related to a belief in good luck in Japan, it says so on this Food Quiz site!
http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/01177/eng/quiz.html
How cool! I learned something new.

Answer 3

At Japan's traditional culture, spilling salt means making a things clean (cleansing with salt). A Japanese might be spilling salt in front of their house for cleansing, just after a visitor, disliked by he or she left their house.

Answer 4

If I spill salt, I always throw if over my left shoulder. I do not even know why. I think it might be an old European superstition that due to the value of salt in days past, if you spilled it, you basically had to use it for something.

Answer 5

Japan

Answer 6

The tossing of salt over ones shoulder started in ancient time because salt was life to them and not having salt in your diet equaled death, and they assumed that spilling salt was bad luck. Now you know how all of that got started.............

Answer 7

in Greece when spilling SALT behind a visitor is kinda a wish never to come again

Answer 8

Österreich

Answer 9

Djibouti

Answer 10

Zimbabwe