Pliny Archives – Supernaturally Speaking

Superstition Saturday: Rye

By Erika Timar|2016-12-04T12:29:27-05:00August 6th, 2016|Non-fiction, Superstition|1 Comment

Every month the Oldways Whole Grains Council features a different whole grain. August's grain is rye, a hardy crop, which for a long time was considered a weed competing for wheat in the fields. This fast-growing, resilient grain gained extensive usage in the Bronze Age (c 1800-1500 BCE) spreading from localized use around Turkey to most of Europe.1 Slightly sour and earthy [...]

Superstition Saturday: Mushroom

Overnight, as if by magic, mushrooms spring from the ground. The seeming spontaneous origin of these fungi adds to their mystical intrigue. However, mushrooms are viewed very differently depending on the country. In England and Ireland, they are tied to death and decay, and fear surrounds these potential poisonous florae. They are known as Satan’s [...]