More Gardening Superstitions: Fruit and Veggie Tales

You wouldn't think that in today's world superstitions would be so prevalent, but it's true. There are still many tales and superstitions alive and well, flourishing in numerous countries and cultures across the globe. The majority of these tales and superstitions revolve around things such as colors, objects, numbers, herbs and the like. Interestingly enough, however, there are also many curious beliefs regarding some of our favorite fruits and veggies. For instance, some people still believe that menstruating women coming into contact with any fruit or veggie will spoil the entire crop. Guys, this just ain't so.

Fruity Superstitions

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away." "Wipe it clean or the Devil will be seen." The beloved, yet seductive apple-it has been depicted as the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. It was the poisonous fruit in the popular fairytale Snow White. The apple is considered an omen in many cultures. It is thought to be bad luck for an apple tree to blossom during fall or to leave a single apple on the tree during harvest season. Bringing apple blossoms into the home is said to spawn illness. Apples also play prominent roles in many Halloween traditions, from bobbing for apples to apple cider and candied apples. The fruit has long since been associated with love, marriage, and fortune telling. The banana has been depicted as the monkey's fruit and the subject of many children's rhymes. We know that they're good for us, filled with potassium. However, bananas have also been blamed for bringing bad luck to seafarers. As a result, bananas are typically forbidden on boats. Why? It was believed that vessels lost at sea had been carrying shipments of bananas. In other places, however, bananas are thought to be lucky. For instance, it is said that if you cut a slice of banana while making a wish and the letter "Y" can be seen, the wish will come true.

In some countries, dead animals are buried with newly planted fruit trees to ensure good harvests. Um, I think I'll pass on eating any of these. More than one blooming season is thought of as an omen of ill fortune and even death. The first crop of cherries is sometimes given to women who have recently given birth. It is thought that this ritual will ensure an abundant harvest. The pits (or stones) of cherries are said to foretell marriage as well, but don't walk through an orchard without wiping your feet with a cherry leaf, lest you're sure to choke on a cherry pit. Peaches are symbols of long life in some places and responsible for warding off evil. Supposedly, small peach blossoms will bring large fruit while large blossoms mean smaller fruit. It is also thought good luck to eat peaches on New Year's Eve, though I'm not sure where you'll find any.

Did you know that it is also supposed to be good luck to eat 12 grapes before midnight on New Year's Eve? Apparently, you make a wish on each one for good health in the coming year. Ever found a double fruit? These are thought to be good luck. Pregnant women coming across this rarity are said to give birth to twins. We all love berries, but did you know that autumn berries bring with them harsh winters. Strawberries are considered to be aphrodisiacs and are popular treats for those on their wedding night. If pregnant women eat strawberries, their babies will presumably be born with a strawberry birthmark. Blackberries may be tasty summer treats, but they are also said to be associated with the Devil himself. In fact, in some places, people actually refuse to eat them, as they believe the Devil is responsible for their 'black' color.

They're not only sour but they're also thought to foretell future love affairs. As gross as it may seem, women once placed lemon peels in their underarms for an entire day. Afterward, the peels were rubbed on their bedposts where visions of a lover would come bearing lemons. A similar ritual involves the orange, which is also prized for love and fertility. A fellow would prick an orange all over and sleep with it under his armpit, offering it to his desired lover the following day. If she accepted the orange, by eating it, he was thought to have won her affection. Not to sure I would want to know where it was all night. Once considered an aphrodisiac in some countries, the Puritans though the tomato to be an abomination and poisonous. However, tomatoes have since become popular 'fruits' in many gardens. Although I have always thought placing tomatoes on one's windowsill helped ripen them, I have since learned that this practice originated as a means to ward off evil.

Veggie Tales

Vegetable crops have always been surrounded by superstition. For instance, many of them are thought to produce better yields if planted around the phases of the moon. Weather is also thought to predict a crop's fate such as "A wet March makes a bad harvest." Beans are supposedly linked with death and ghosts. They are thought to exhibit magical powers such as those from the fairytale Jack and the Beanstalk, especially white ones. It is said that more accidents are imminent while beans are in blossom, and sleeping in a bean field will trigger nightmares. Who sleeps in bean fields anyway? However, in some cultures, bean flowers are scattered throughout homes to ward off demons. Peas, on the other hand, are linked to good luck and are said to foretell love. Finding one pea in a pod is very lucky. The saying, "two peas in a pod," means two people are really close to one another. Hanging the pod from which nine peas were found is said to welcome the entrance for one's future, destined-to-wed partner. In the South (my neck of the woods), eating black-eyed peas on New Year's brings about good luck and eating greens attracts money, or so they say. I'm still waiting for mine.

Lettuce is thought of as magical and supposed to prevent drunkenness. It's also supposed to be an aphrodisiac. Eating lots of lettuce is supposed to make childbirth easier (a man must have come up with this one). If two shoots come up from a single cabbage root, it is said to bring good luck. Youngsters in some cultures traditionally pull up the plants, roots and all, from the cabbage patch at midnight on Halloween. These are then tossed into a fire and depending on how they burned, love interpretations are made. I often heard the saying "red as a beet" growing up. I despise the things. However, beets are said to be good for colds and headaches. The poultice of wilted beet leaves is also said to bring a boil to a head. There is another saying: "Plant beet at the sign of the feet." Presumably, this translates to planting them in the dark of the moon during the sign of Pisces. Carrots are popular for 'allowing one to see in the dark' as they are deemed magical. Perhaps, this comes in handy while planting beets. In certain cultures, pregnant women eating carrots along with tofu, mushrooms, and lettuce will have a boy.

Hanging chili peppers over the threshold is supposed to ward off both the evil eye and other malevolent spirits. The onion is infamous for bringing one to tears as well as its unpleasant odor. It is also abundant in the realm of superstition, especially regarding love. The onion is thought to be powerful enough to ward off evil and sickness and was once hung in the home to prevent plague. Pumpkins are commonly associated with Halloween. In fact, carved and lighted pumpkins originated as a means of warding off evil spirits. However, eating their seeds was thought to give one lice. This one is so not true; I love roasted pumpkin seeds and have never gotten lice from eating them. Pumpkins are also supposed to be planted only on Good Friday.

While many of these superstitions are alive and well in some parts of the world today, it is up to you as to whether you choose to believe in them or not. Frankly, I find most superstitions to be over exaggerated tales based on fear or wishful thinking.