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What is the purpose of placing a bowl of salt in the corner of the house?

In the past, people used to place a bowl of salt at the corner of their house or sprinkle salt in the corners of their rooms when moving into a new home. Why did this custom exist?

Administrator

26 October, 2023

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In ancient times, salt was very precious. It used to be a special commodity with its own tax – salt tax. Salt smugglers were heavily punished. With its salty taste, salt is not only an essential seasoning in meals but also helps to preserve food for a long time and has good cleaning capabilities.

Therefore, in Vietnamese folklore, salt is believed to have the ability to ward off negative energy, absorb negative energy, and bring good luck. So at the beginning of the Lunar New Year, on the first market trip, people often buy a bag of salt to bring home, both for use and for luck. This tradition is reflected in the saying “Buy salt at the beginning of the year, buy lime at the end of the year” that almost everyone has heard.

Many people buy salt on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year. After bringing the salt home, they divide it into small nylon bags, cloth bags, or red envelopes… to be both beautiful and convenient to store in the house, as a lucky charm. In the past, merchants could place salt bags at their stalls to seek luck in wealth. When traveling far, they would also place a bag of salt in their luggage for a safe journey.

What is the significance of placing a bowl of salt in the corner of the house?

With the belief in the ability of salt to ward off negative energy, in the past, many families would place a bowl of salt in the corners of their house to avoid risks, have more wealth, health, and luck.

What is the significance of placing a bowl of salt in the corner of the house? (Photo: Getty Images)

Folklore also passes down the experience of sprinkling salt in each room when moving to a new place, especially in the corners of the house, and then waiting for about 24 hours for the salt to absorb the negative energy or the lingering qi of the previous owner before sweeping it away. Many people mix a little salt in water and use that water to mop the floor with the aim of creating a clean space to welcome new positive energy.

Folklore also believes that sprinkling salt outside the house or at the entrance can help prevent negative energy and cleanse the airflow into the house. Many people sprinkle a little salt on the floor at night and sweep it away the next morning. According to Feng Shui, the corner of the house is the most ideal place to put salt because it is a location with suitable support, rarely touched by anyone but still receives light and is not damp and dark.

Placing a bowl of salt in the corner of the house is a Feng Shui tip that is passed down based on the practicality of salt in real life, especially its antibacterial properties. In a time when science had not yet developed, people explained the ability of salt to prevent infections, mold, and preserve food… as “warding off negative energy”.

In reality, salt is one of the most widely used minerals in human life, especially the cheapest antibacterial medicine.

Should you keep salt in the bedroom?

This is a question that many people are concerned about. In reality, the advice to place salt in the bedroom comes from folk experience when many people realize the influence of salt on human health.

Modern science also acknowledges that placing a dish of salted lemons at the head of the bed can help people sleep better and relax. Salt has the ability to disinfect the air, while lemons emit a pleasant fragrance that helps soothe the nerves, reduce anxiety, and stress. The fragrance of lemons stimulates the brain to release serotonin to reduce stress and improve sleep quality.

The essential oils in lemon peels also help purify and eliminate harmful substances in the air, and have an effective repellent effect on mosquitoes and insects.

According to VTC