Item: Tomatoes
Wards off: Evil Spirits (in a new home)

        Tomatoes belong to the Solanceae family, which consist of other poisonous plants, such as henbane, mandrake and deadly nightshade.

        Some of these plants produce hallucinogenic effects on people, such as that of visions and flying, leading to the association of them with witchcraft.

        German folklore claims that witches used plants like mandrake and nightshade to summon werewolves, a practice known as lycanthropy.

        In the 18th century the tomato species was named Lycopersicon esculentum, which literally means, "edible wolf peach".

        Tomatoes are even related to the French Revolution, when patriotic Republican citizens of Paris donned the Red Cap to profess their faith in the Republic. While their main objective was to behead aristocrats, they still had to eat. An overzealous chef suggested that the faithful should eat only red food to demonstrate their devotion to the revolution, which was how tomatoes came into the picture.

        Since the tomato was popular in the southern parts of the continent but was not recommended by the French Aristocracy, it made the perfect mascot for the blood thirsty hordes. It quickly became the fruit of choice to the Republican masses and came to be served as stewed side dishes and summer salads. That was in the year 1783.

        Today, people believe that placing ripe tomatoes on a mantel when first entering a new house will ward off evil spirits. When tomatoes are unavailable, red pincushions are used instead, which explains why most pincushions seen to date are often red.

Item: Tea
Wards off: Evil Spirits, Sickness, Curses, Negative Energies

        Strange, isn't it, that even common everyday food and beverages carry little-known superstitions with them? Tea is one such example.

        Many superstitions have been attached to it, such as if the lid of the pot is inadvertently left off, a stranger will call at the house, etc.

        In terms of warding-off-evil-wise, in some parts of England, it is thought that scattering tea leaves in front of the house is useful in warding off evil spirits and protecting the family that lives there.

        Similarly, some people believe that if loose tea leaves are accidentally dropped in the house, it will bring good luck to the home owners!

        However, different varieties of tea serve different purposes in this quest to protect one against evil.

        For example, bay leaves can be scattered or burnt for exorcism, and are sometimes swallowed by priestesses at Delphi to induce their visions and prophesies. Chamomile tea can be used to bathe children to protect them from the evil eye or to break curses cast against them. Ginger tea is burnt to break curses and ward off spirits, and St. John's Wort is a sacred herb added to tea that can otherwise be used in protection, exorcism spells, incenses, and to ward off sickness and banish negative energies.

        So, go ahead, cook up a storm with our list of food that can save the chickens amongst you! HOOKED

Disclaimer: hooked will not be liable for your safety, if the abovementioned food weren't able to save you from your encounter with one of the kinds.

Share the love and tell us more methods to keep ghouls, vampires and all unwelcome folks at bay!

Picture courtesy of:

http://www.mdidea.com/products/new/garlic02.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Fennel_seed.jpg

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/produce/images/fennel.jpg

http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=10726&rendTypeId=4

http://www.teatimenashville.com/green%20tea%20pot%20and%20cups.jpg

http://www.clfp.com/pics/tomato.jpg

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