Needle-filled lemons on Canadian hiking trail prompt police probe tied to witchcraft
A strange police investigation with possible ties to witchcraft is underway in Canada after lemons full of sewing needles were found by hiking trails around Port Coquitlam, about 25 miles north of the U.S. border.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police said at least two of the citrus fruit were reported between June 22 and July 14, wrapped in twine and tied to branches. Both were sliced open and put back together with sewing needles, the department said in a release.
The people who found the lemons tossed them in the trash, which police said hindered the investigation into a motive.
However, witchcraft sites like Urban Spell Craft say pierced lemons are part of a hex — known as “The Lemon Curse” — that strengthens as the fruit slowly rots.
“If you are leaving these lemons full of needles in public, we ask that you stop, and then talk to us to explain what you were doing,” Corporal Michael McLaughlin said in a release.
Media outlets in the area have reported “someone sabotaged” the park, and it’s not the first time.
“I’ve received many photos and comments over the years from people around Metro Vancouver finding these kinds of treats,” Chris Campbell, a news editor, wrote in the Tri-City News.
The directions for creating a “Lemon Curse” are widespread on social media, including lists of ingredients on Tumblr and Pinterest, along with multiple how-to videos on YouTube. Some refer to the hex as a “Sour Jar Spell,” intended to “sour” someone’s love life, career or peace of mind.
Ingredients include a lemon, nails or pins, twine, a person’s photo or name on piece of paper and “cursing oil,” according to Urban Spell Craft.
“When you feel the curse is complete, bury the lemon far away from your home,” the craft site advises.
The Coquitlam RCMP wrote on Facebook about the investigation, and multiple commenters noted the fruit should not have been touched.
“That’s very clearly a pain/karma curse, just not very well done,” Scarlet B tweeted. “The person clearly has ill intent, so I’d keep a closer eye out, in my humble opinion. They could get more aggressive with time.”
This story was originally published July 17, 2020 at 12:53 PM with the headline "Needle-filled lemons on Canadian hiking trail prompt police probe tied to witchcraft."