Why do people throw salt over their shoulder?

Some people may throw salt over their shoulder in the belief that it wards off evil spirits or misfortune. This practice, commonly held to be a superstition, stems from the notion that spilling salt is unlucky and that the devil or other evil spirits reside on the left shoulder. Individuals who subscribe to the practice believe that any spilled salt should be tossed over the left shoulder to blind these spirits, preventing them from causing the misfortune associated with spilling salt.

Variations of this practice or ritual uses of salt appear across different cultures, in which the act of throwing salt is seen as a way to cleanse oneself of negative energy or to ensure good luck. In some Hindu traditions, salt may be used to ward off the influence of an evil eye, a gaze purported to bring misfortune to those it falls upon. To counteract its influence, a small quantity of salt (held in the hand or placed in a small bowl) is ritually waved around one’s person in a prescribed manner and then discarded into water or fire. Some Buddhists may also throw salt over both shoulders to ward off evil spirits following them from funerals.

In contemporary times the act of throwing salt over one’s shoulder is often seen as a quaint or humorous gesture rather than a serious ritual. However, for some, it remains a meaningful practice, especially for those who value folk beliefs or observe such rituals as sources of comfort and certainty.