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Hello, this is Six Minute English from BBC Learning English, I'm Rob.
And I'm Sam, and I'm having a boiled egg for lunch today.
I'll just sprinkle some salt on top there.
Oh, you've spilled some salt on the floor, Sam.
Quick, throw some over your left shoulder.
Throw some salt over my shoulder.
What are you talking about, Rob?
It's bad luck to spill salt.
Oh, dear, it looks like Rob believes in superstitions.
Old beliefs which are based on magic and mystery rather than science.
Many superstitions are connected to food, as we'll discover in this program.
Right, like throwing salt over your shoulder to stop bad luck.
Oh, come on, Rob, you don't really believe that, do you?
Well, lots of people do believe food superstitions,
including otherwise rational scientific people.
For example, have you ever blown out the candles on a birthday cake and made a wish,
or thrown rice over the bride and groom at a wedding?
Yes, to both of those.