People and animals need salt in order to survive. This is well known, and encoded in our DNA.
It's crucial for our nervous system to function, our muscles to contract and relax, and for maintaining fluid balance. No wonder there is so much misticism in popular believes about salt.
And by the way, in Romania iwe have the same tradition - to welcome gusts with bread and salt.
Glad to get acquainted) Thanks for the cool comment. Bread has the shape of the sun and is associated with it, so after all, there is something mystical in traditions as well)
Do you know about Mykhailo Stelmakh? He wrote a book called Bread and Salt. Perhaps you can find it. He was also a Ukrainian.
Thank you. The name is familiar, I'll take a look.