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9 answers

It's the LEFT shoulder. Here's why...

The old Latin terms, dextrel and sinistral, refer to right and left, respectively. Sinistral is the root for the word "sinister"--which is obviously tied to the left. Since most people are right-handed, to be different (left-handed) became associated with being sinister, and that's naturally related to being somehow satanic.

So, the the idea is that the devil sneaks up behind you on the left side, and an eye-full of salt is just what he needs to be kept away.

2007-08-05 06:08:06 · answer #1 · answered by stevenB 4 · 6 0

Salt Over Shoulder

2016-10-07 07:09:47 · answer #2 · answered by theberge 4 · 0 0

Left

Lots of superstitious people, when they spill salt, will take a pinch of it in their right hand and throw it backwards over their left shoulder.

Superstition has it that, at all times, a devil (or perhaps the devil) waits over your left shoulder, and also that spilling salt is bad luck (perhaps because it used to be rare and precious). Hence, you can mitigate your bad luck by throwing salt into the eyes of the devil. There's also a belief that your guardian angel (who can be found over your right shoulder) spills salt to warn you of evil nearby. Either you throw the salt to hurt the devil or, as salt was valuable, as an offering to placate him.

Like lots of other superstitions in a Christianised culture, it has a Christianised explanation: spilling salt is bad luck, because Judas spilled salt at the Last Supper. This is somewhat equivalent to the Christianised explanation for not sitting down thirteen at the table, and almost certainly a red herring.

2007-08-05 06:23:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 6 0

I have always heard it is the left shoulder that you throw it over. My Dad use to tell we had to throw a pinch over our left shoulder when we would spill the salt, or knock it over.

2007-08-05 05:01:55 · answer #4 · answered by Lil's Mommy 5 · 1 0

Salt thrown over your shoulder to keep bad luck away, or to throw into the devil's eye, is always thrown over the left shoulder.

2007-08-05 05:00:37 · answer #5 · answered by laurel g 6 · 0 1

With the stigma attached to left handers, I think it would be over the left shoulder but thrown from the right hand so that arm crosses your chest in the toss.

2007-08-05 05:44:01 · answer #6 · answered by Amber F 4 · 1 0

Salt at one time was a very expensive item to buy and since salt was a life saver.. To spill it had evil contentions and since the guy that threw it of his left shoulder was right handed that has become the way to throw salt back in the devil face..... And that is how that superstition got started.............................
Another factual statment................................................................

2007-08-05 15:49:12 · answer #7 · answered by kilroymaster 7 · 1 0

ya dont throw it over the shoulder that somebody is standing behind

2007-08-08 12:26:42 · answer #8 · answered by girlwith73gmc 2 · 0 0

You throw the salt over your left because that is the "bad" side or the devil's side. The right side is your "good" side

2007-08-05 04:58:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

I believe it's supposed to be your left.

2007-08-05 04:52:25 · answer #10 · answered by SuperGurl78 3 · 1 0

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