CHILLI...One spice, Many usages

CHILLIES...Spice, magic, supernatural powers, Myths and so on


Bolivian Lady...We thank Bolivia for gifting chili pepper to the world


Chili Pepper Traditions:

The Indians of the Cuna Islands off Panama tow chili peppers behind their boats to ward off sharks.

The Tarahumara Indians of Sonora, Mexico use the tiny chiltepins in curing ceremonies--not to rid someone of a current affliction, but to prevent maladies as a result of future witchcraft. Such witchcraft is caused by a sukurame sorcerer who uses a special bird called a disagiki as a pathogenic agent to transmit illness.

The sorcerer is the only one who can see the bird, which is no bigger than a finger tip but lives on meat and tortillas. It flies into houses crying ‘Sht! Sht!’ and then eats your food or defecates on you.

The only way to prevent its coming is to throw some Chiltepins into the air and eat some yourself. because the disagiki bird cannot stand chiles. This is where the common name of Bird Pepper comes from.

In Mexico the people are very fond of hot peppers. Their bodies get so thoroughly saturated with it, that if one of them happens to die on the prairie the vultures will not touch the body on account of its being so impregnated with the capsicum.

In the Ozarks and deep South of the United States, an African-American legend holds that in order for peppers to grow out and be hot, you have to be very angry when you plant them. The best peppers are said to be planted by a lunatic.

Chillies are one of the ingredients in the arrow poison of indigenous Bajak tribesmen of Borneo.

One of the commonest household uses of chile peppers in cultures all over the world is burning them as a fumigant for vermin ranging from bedbugs to rats. Since fumigation in ancient times was also believed to be protection against vampires and werewolves, we have a good introduction to the concept of the magical powers of peppers.

Chili Pepper Magic: To keep your mate faithful, buy two large, dried chili peppers, and tie them together with a red (passion) or pink (affection) ribbon. Place this beneath your pillow. It may also be added to love powders for lust.

Scattered around house, the acrid chili pepper is used to break spells. Because of its “bite,” chili pepper is also used to ‘curse’ others.

Naga Jolokia Addict

The story and Bolivian lady photograph taken with thanks from the net.