Kitchen superstitions were surprisingly popular in the 1920s. Not only did mothers pass these superstitions down to their children, they also published these superstitions in local newspapers so that people could add them to their own family beliefs.
1. Pepper
If you spill the pepper, you will get into an argument with someone shortly.
2. Egg Shells
If egg shells crack while they are being boiled, there will be a disappointment.
3. Burnt Food
If the food is burned, the cook is in love.
4. Cake
To divide a piece of cake in half, there will soon be a family argument.
5. Double Yolk
To break open a double yolked egg means there will be good fortune in the home.
6. Baking Apple
When baking apples, if one bursts open with a sputter you will soon get good news.
7. Cake Batter
If the cake batter runs over the edges of the pan, you are about to get some unexpected money.
8. Upset Cake or Pie
Upset a cake or pie while taking it out of the oven and everything will go wrong for the rest of the day.
9. Salad
While mixing a salad, any leaves that fall out of the bowl will tell the number of years you must wait before marrying.
10. Taking Food
You will bring bad luck to a house if you take food into it and then out again on your departure. To avoid bad luck, leave a small piece of the food in the house.
11. Canned Fruit
When opening a can of fruit or any similar thing and the juice spouts up in your face, make a wish and it will come true.
Source: The Manitowoc pilot. (Manitowoc, Wis.), 01 July 1920.
