“Bottle gourds” or calabash have been used in ancient China as a food and medicine and its hard shell has been used as a water bottle, wine carrier and even as a musical instrument. There are also many traditional beliefs about the use of the bottle gourd. For example, it is used as a charm to have a large family with many children because the bottle gourd has thousands of seeds. It is also used to ward off evil spirits, to have good fortune, to get protection against chicken pox for small children and old men carry it seeking longevity. It’s a pity because I have seen it all my life in Singapore and China but had actually never experienced it.
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