5 Crazy Latin Food Superstitions That Will Make you Laugh

Superstitions are commonly part of any culture, but in the Latin Americas, some are held with high regard and are still religiously followed by some. Here are some rather interesting food superstitions that will make you wonder who came up wit these funny ideas.

1. Eating grapes at midnight. If ever you find yourself hungry in the middle of the night, here's something you can try. According to Huffington Post, people from South American countries consume 12 pieces of grapes one by one at midnight on New Year's Eve as a way to tell if the year will be a good one for them. The grapes must be eaten one by one, symbolizing each month of the year. Sweet grapes mean that a month will be good, while sour grapes mean it's going to be a bad month. On one hand, consuming grapes is great, as it contains vitamins and minerals, but the timing of eating them at midnight may be questionable.

2. Pass the hot peppers. It is said that salt should never be passed on to another person at the dinner table because it brings bad luck. Similarly, when cooking in the kitchen with your loved ones, never hand a hot pepper directly to another person because it will bring discord into the relationship. Like salt, it's best to put it down on the table in front of them so that they can pick it up themselves.

3. Eggs: Handle with care. According to The Latin Kitchen, eggs symbolize fertility, and back in the olden days, egg shells were scattered on the land to help bring abundant harvests. Additionally, Huffington Post reports that finding two yolks in a single egg means that marriage or twin children are in your immediate future. It is also highly recommended to crush the egg shells after cracking an egg to prevent witches from gathering up the pieces, and going out to sea to cause storms.

4. Water for protection. Have an extra glass of water? Mamas Latinas recommends keeping it on top of the refrigerator or behind the door to absorb negative energy or bad spirits that may be wandering inside your home. Just make sure it's not in a place where it can easily topple off or fall because that would mean you'll have to clean it up. Similarly, throwing a bucket of water during the New Year symbolizes a cleanse, thereby bringing good fortune in the New Year.

5. Bread over a door. Want to take extra precaution against those evil spirits that lurk around? Put a piece of bread on the ceiling or over the door. Just make sure to replace it when it gets old. It may help ward off evil spirits, but it will surely attract more ants.