11 Freaky Food Superstitions (Slideshow)

Beware of the devil lurking near your loaf of bread. It's been said that if you don't cut a cross into the top of the dough before baking it, the devil will sit on your loaf. Hence, one of the origin stories for Hot Cross Buns. Other superstitions around bread say that you should only cut one end of the loaf, otherwise you'll free the devil and he'll fly all around your house. And watch out for holes in your loaf, as they've been said to symbolize a coffin and mean someone is going to die soon. And finally, keep your loaf upright — an upside-down loaf reportedly brings bad luck.

According to superstition, always crush an eggshell after it's cracked. If not, a witch will supposedly use the pieces to build a boat, set sail, and cause terrible storms at sea. And after boiling an egg, a superstition that reportedly originated in England says to push a spoon through the bottom of the empty shell to let out the devil, who likes the sulfurous smell of yolk because it reminds him of home — hell.

This superstition says that each family member should take a turn stirring the Christmas cake mixture, or bad luck will befall them if they don't — particularly, unmarried girls, who will supposedly remain alone for another year.

This superstition says you should never cut noodles before serving them. In Chinese culture, a long noodle represents a long life. If you cut noodles before serving them to someone, the life of that person will be cut short. 

Pour your own pot of tea... according to superstition, it's bad luck to share. Be sure the lid is on when brewing, and be careful not to spill. Otherwise, in both instances, you might get a visit from a stranger.

This might seem like an odd rule, but don't bring bananas on a boat. For centuries, fishermen have banned them from their boats. Rumor has it that an illness once befell a fisherman who ate a banana.