Food Taboos and Superstitions Around the World

In Japan, sticking chopsticks upright in rice is a major taboo.

It resembles a funeral ritual where incense sticks are placed in sand, symbolizing death.

Doing this at the dinner table is considered extremely bad luck.

Instead, always rest chopsticks on a holder or lay them across the bowl to avoid unintentionally inviting misfortune.

In Italy, never place bread upside down on the table.

This superstition dates back to medieval times when bread was reserved for executioners, often placed upside down to

mark it.

Even today, many Italians believe it brings bad luck.

If you accidentally flip bread, quickly turn it back over to avoid inviting misfortune to your meal.

In China, turning a fish over on your plate is considered unlucky.

It symbolizes a boat capsizing, which is especially ominous for fishermen.

Instead, after finishing one side, carefully remove the bones to access the other half.

This practice is deeply rooted in maritime culture and is still followed in many coastal regions.

In Russia, passing salt directly from hand to hand is believed to bring conflict.

Instead, place the salt shaker on the table for the other person to pick up.

This belief dates back to times when spilled salt was seen as an omen of bad luck, often

requiring a ritual to counteract its effects.