ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Wednesday, December 11, 1996           TAG: 9612110072
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 8    EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BEVERLY LEVITT SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES

FOODS FOR FRIDAY THE 13TH WOULD MAKE LUCKY MEALS ANYTIME

Since ancient times, superstitions surrounding Friday the 13th have had sailors refusing to leave port, gladiators withdrawing from the ring and stock brokers quaking in fear the market would crash.

Why all the frenzy?

"Most of us were brought up with superstitions, and although we know they're irrational, they've become a vital part of our folklore and heritage," says Los Angeles-based psychologist and screenwriter Michael Berlin. "They're passed down from generation to generation."

So on Friday, perhaps you shouldn't be surprised to see people throwing salt over their left shoulders; avoiding walking under ladders, in front of black cats or directly on sidewalk cracks; or carrying rabbits' feet, lucky coins, horseshoes or four-leaf clovers in their pockets.

The cuisine-conscious might even sport strings of garlic to ward off an evil eye and court good luck. Every culture has foods which are traditionally considered lucky, including black-eyed peas, lentils, beans, sprouted wheat, rice, lasagna, doughnuts, pomegranates, grapes, greens, fennel, broccoli, cabbage and pork - including miniature marzipan pigs. Herring and whole red fish, such as red snapper, also are considered auspicious, with the "luckiest" person at the table getting to eat the fish's head and eyeballs.

Recipes For:

SPROUTED WHEAT, WALNUT AND BABY GREENS SALAD

BAKED RED SNAPPER

DANISH RED FRUIT PUDDING WITH CREAM

MOSHKEL GOSHA

HAM WITH POMEGRANATE SAUCE

BBQ BLACK-EYED PEA SPREAD

FEIJOADA

LENGTH: Short :   45 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  JULIE SEIGEL. If you're the superstitious type, black 
          bean-based and meaty feijoada (recipe at left) has garlic and pepper
          to ward off the spirits of Friday the 13th. color.