Beans have long held a special place in the lore and traditions of cultures worldwide. From associations with the afterlife to their roles in divination and medicine, legumes are surrounded by fascinating stories and superstitions.
Beans and the Afterlife
In ancient times, beans were deeply connected with death and spirits. The disciples of Pythagoras in Greece, as well as the ancient Egyptians, observed strict taboos against eating beans, believing them to be linked with the souls of the deceased. The Romans also held beans in high regard, offering them to the dead during the Bean Calends and serving them at funerals—a practice that persisted in Britain until the 19th century.
Protective Powers in the Far East
In Japan and other parts of the Far East, bean flowers were used as a protective charm. Scattering these flowers around the house was believed to ward off evil spirits and keep homes safe from harm. The practice highlights the protective and purifying qualities attributed to beans in these cultures.
Native American Celebrations
Several Native American tribes have rich traditions involving beans. They held special festivals dedicated to beans, which were believed to ensure a good harvest in the future. The celebrations were not only agricultural events but also carried spiritual significance, reinforcing the beans’ vital role in their culture.
European Myths and Justice
European folklore is replete with tales involving beans. The story of “Jack and the Beanstalk” is one of the most famous, illustrating the magical properties attributed to beans. In medieval Europe, beans were even used in legal processes. A suspect’s guilt or innocence could be determined by drawing beans from a bag: a black bean signified guilt, while a white bean meant innocence.
Planting Traditions in England
In the southwest counties of England, local tradition insists on planting kidney beans on May 3rd for a prosperous crop. Gardeners also follow the advice to plant beans on the feast days of St. David and St. Chad, or when elm leaves are as big as a farthing. These planting rituals underscore the beans’ importance in agricultural practices and their connection to the natural world.
Divination and Marriage
Beans played a role in divination, particularly in Northern England. Cooks would hide a bean in a pea pod while preparing a meal, and the person who found the bean was believed to be the first to marry. On Midsummer’s Eve, a game involving the search for three hidden beans (one peeled, one half-peeled, and one unpeeled) foretold a person’s future wealth or poverty based on the bean they found.
Folk Medicine
In folk medicine, beans were thought to possess healing properties. Rubbing the white inner lining of a bean pod on a wart was believed to cure it. Consuming bean pods in wine and vinegar, or distilled water of the flowers, was said to enhance beauty and improve complexion, though it might also bring on nightmares.
Omens and Superstitions
The flower of the bean was often associated with ominous signs. Many believed that the souls of the departed resided in these blooms, leading to various superstitions. In parts of the British Isles, accidents were thought to be more frequent when bean plants were in bloom.
A white-flowering bean plant in a patch was considered a dire omen, predicting imminent death. Sleeping in a bean field was said to cause nightmares or even insanity, and the strong perfume of bean flowers was believed to make a person lightheaded or foolish.
