Title: Passing Salt (Version 1)

General Information about Item:

• Mexican Superstition
• Language: Spanish
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Informant: Rosa Mendoza
• Date Collected: 10-17-18

Informant Data:

• Rosa Mendoza was born in Dallas, Texas but her parents originate from Mexico. She is currently studying Biology at Dartmouth College. Rosa mostly speaks Spanish fluently at home with her parents and sister. Although Rosa grew up in America, her parents made sure to instill the Mexican culture in her upbringing.

Contextual Data:

• Cultural Context: Like many other cultures of the world, the Mexican culture is deeply rooted in superstitions. Superstitions are told with the purpose of encouraging a certain kind of behavior over others. Although Rosa does not know why this superstition exists or why her parents said lifting the salt container while passing it to someone else would bring bad luck, she continues to still do it as it is part of her cultural upbringing and said she will also pass it on to her future family.
• Social Context: This is a superstition like many other superstitions in other cultures was passed on from Rosa’s parents to her as a child. Rosa believes in it strongly and till this day she makes sure to pass salt without lifting the container off the table. Rosa shares this practice with her family. Perhaps this behavior is encouraged as a sign of respect to others or maybe it is simply encouraged to prevent the possibility the salt spilling and making a mess.

Subgenre: bad luck superstitions

Item (translation)

When passing the salt at the dinner (food) table, you are to pass it without lifting it from the table. It is bad luck if you lift the salt off the table while passing it.

Collector’s Name: Ama Kyerewaa