Old Wives Tales.
 

I have been writing in a journal for my DGD and I thought it would be neat to write some old wife's tales. My grand mother and great grand mother had one for just about everything.
I thought it might be something different to share on here and I might find out some new ones to add to her journal. So start sharing, I think it could be fun. I am also curious if they were the same around the country or if they were different in different parts of the country or even in other countries.
May the tales begin! Thanks to all who join in!

You're making some nice memories and interesting reading for your DGD. Just noticed your address and realized we came thru there on our way from Paducah, KY Sunday.

The most old wives' tales I heard involved pregnancy.
Here is just one of thousands: If the mother-to-be still looked beautiful, fresh-faced with clear skin and shiny hair through the eighth month, it meant she was having a boy, because a baby girl would steal her mother's beauty and youth!

never reach above your head when you're pregnant, it will cause the cord to wrap around the baby's neck!

i've heard this one, too.
if it's of any "use"... it "worked" for me. i LOVED being pregnant and i looked AMAZING up until the very end. i had a bouncing baby boy; the true love of my life... ps. he's not a baby anymore! that was almost 20 years ago

My Gram said that eating bologna while pregnant caused birth defects.
And my Aunt said drinking soda while pregnant caused low birth weight.


The latter one I had to chuckle when she said that. My last two children were big babies. My daughter weighed 10 lbs, and my son weighed 9 lbs 14 oz. :)

mine might be a little "different" being that i'm first generation american.
i'll chime is as i remember them.

* if you sweep over the feet of a young-single girl/lady, she will be a spinster.
* if you hit yourself on the elbow (the funny bone), don't rub it. it'll bring good luck.
* if it's raining and the sun is out, a "witch" is getting married.
* if your new baby (up to toddlerhood) gets very needy with mommy, that's because there's another bun in the oven.
* if your boob itches, an "old man" is "desiring" you.

My former deceased mil screamed at me in my own house after I had just hung a load of laundry out to dry. ANd I mean she screamed. Told her to leave.

"A stitch in time saves nine". How true that is! That tear in my bedskirt would not be a foot long if I would have fixed it when I first noticed it. Now it is glued with Elmer School Glue until I change my bedding and can get it off and sewn on my sewing machine.

If your palm itches you're going to get money.
If your nose itches you're going to kiss a fool.
If it rains while the sun is shining, the devil is beating his wife.

Don't know where any of these came from but were standards in my family!

Yep! Good old Bowling Green, KY great place to live. Big enough to have all we need and small enough to feel welcomed by everyone. Did you make it to Whittles Fabric while you were here? If not you'll have to go next time!
As far as the journal, I have been fiddlin' with it a while. But after my sister passed away in Dec. unexpected at the age of 50, it made me realize how tomorrow really isn't promised. My DN has a 4 yr old daughter who thought her Mammy hung the moon, they are expecting a boy next month. So I am making them both a "Mammy's story Book"
I thought it would mean alot to them as they get older and to keep her memories alive to them! Sorry, I know TMI.

Thanks I've not heard this one before.

Heard this one. It reminded me of the one, " If a mother gets frightened and grabs herself when she is pregnant, the baby will have a birthmark where she grabbed herself".

Never heard those 2. And 10lbs and 9lbs14oz, bless your heart.

Here are a few more. If you get your belly all wet while washing dishes you will marry a drunk,
Whatever you do on the first day of the year is what you will end up doing the rest of the year.
How about this one, If your left hand itches you are going to get money and if the right itches you will shake hands with a stranger.

I could go on and on with these things but I think my favorite is the one where you are making ugly faces at someone and your mom says to yo"your face is going to freeze like that one of these times"

Only heard the 1st 1 before. But the last one really cracked me up.LOL

If your baby has the colic, make a tea from an onion and give to them.
If the wooly worm is black, it will be a bad winter.
If it is warm and the snow doesn't melt, it is waiting for another snow.
If your ears are itching, company is coming.
The lower a hornets nest hangs in the tree, the colder the winter will be.
When moving to a different house, leave your broom in the old house for good luck.
Never hand an open pocket knife to someone or you will have bad luck.
Do not open an umbrella inside a house.
Do not drink milk while eating fish, it can be deadly.
These are just some I have heard over the years. :p

I have heard if your palm itches you will get coin money, but if your fingers itch it means you will be getting dollars.

I heard for every stitch you sew on Sunday, means a stitch in your eye the day you die.
They better have spools ready when the crowd off here shows up.LOL

Never give cutlery for a wedding gift -- It will cut the relationship

Putting shoes on the table will bring bad luck

Spill salt -- throw a pinch over your shoulder to ward off evil spirits

Shiver for no reason -- Ghost walked over your grave

If your ear itches, it means someone is talking about you.

Want your kids to find you, go to the bathroom

How about the one " If your nose itches, you're gonna have company"
With my allergies, you'd think our house would be running over with people.LOL

Some I have heard, some I have not. Thanks for sharing!!!!!

I have heard 1,3,&4. I heard "If your ears are burning, someone is talking about you."
It is true about the bathroom, go in and if the kids don't come I can say for sure the dogs all have to come and hang out.

Love reading all these! Thanks to EVERYONE for sharing. I am having a ball reading these! I hope everyone else is enjoying this too. It is bringing back some wonderful childhood memories! I think even if our kiddos or Gks don't appreciate them, I still think they should be passed on!
Thanks for the memories!
Keep 'um coming.

If your nose itches, you will have a fight or kiss a fool.

If you sweep UNDER someones feet (like they lift their feet while sitting down, so you can sweep under them) they will never get married again.

If you hit your mother, your hand will stick out of your grave.

If it rains while the sun is shining it will rain at the same time the next day. If you touch a frog you will get warts on your hands. If you eat a whole cup of nuts at one time you will die before the next morning. Any stitch you do on Sunday you will have to remove on Monday.If you get a fright while you are pregnant and touch your face the baby will have a birthmark on that spot on it's face. I could go on all day my DM was just full of them.

Well, "never sit on a boy's lap". won't begin to explain that one.

i remembered a few more:

* if you knit your man a pair of socks, he'll walk away from you (leave you)
* if you gift your man a pair of shoes... same as above

I've heard if snow lingers around, it is waiting for more snow.

I heard if you give knives as a wedding present, you are suppose to tape a new penny on the gift or it is bad luck.
Well. my great aunt did this when I got married the 1st time. Turns out the penny was worth more than him.LOL

Keep 'em coming, this is fun and funny on some. My grand-mother swore by these. She thought Soltice was the answer for just about everything from sinus, arthiritis, muscle aches, ..... She also used mudd dober nests, put them in an old sock and crush them. Then you would dust it on galleded areas or diaper rash. Soltas
I keep a jar in my bedside table and yes I use it. When my daughter was a newborn she had a reaction to Desidin. My DD went to the barn, I used it and her rash, blisters, and redness was gone shortly afterward!
Sometimes I think I am a chemical sespool. Wonder if we used old time remedies it would make us better.
Sorry for all the miss spelling, I'm about to fall asleep!

Don't lay shoes down on a bed - brings bad luck.
Don't step over a baby playing on the floor, he/she will not grow.
(Only buy quality food products because....) cheap meat dogs eat (thanks Granny).
If you make an ugly face it will freeze like that.

If you go outside with your hair wet, you will catch a cold
If you swallow gum it will stay in your stomach for 7 years
if you eat the crusts on your sandwiches you will be able to whistle
if you eat all your bacon you will be able to snap your fingers
If you get a sore white spot on your tongue it's because you told a lie
If you start shaving your legs too early, the hair will grow back in thicker

and one that my older sisters taunted me with because I was plagued often with styes in my eye and one you probably don't want to share with your DGD - if you get a stye in your eye it is because you peed in the alley!!!

don't open an umbrella inside, especially a black one. nor put it on the bed open. not sure why.

These are some I grew up knowing as a kid: If you blow out all the candles on your birthday cake with the first puff you will get your wish.
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[TD="width: 99%, bgcolor: transparent"]If you get a chill up your back or goosebumps, it means that someone is walking over your grave.
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If a clock which has not been working suddenly chimes, therewill be a death in the family.

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Break your mother's back.
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An apple a day keeps the doctor away
Cross my heart and hope to die,
Cut my throat if I tell a lie.

My grandma used to say if your boob itches, the one that had it last wants it again!

If you have a tooth pulled and don't stick your tongue in the hole, you will grow a gold tooth.

Hahaha, Ragquilter...My Aunt always told us this & I used to believe it.

Well here's one of the weirdest things I ever heard. I actually overheard a woman tell her daughter (with baby in arm) this one: You shouldn't take a baby out on a windy day because it will give the baby gas. ​

If a bird flies in a window, someone in the family will die.
If a window shade snaps and rolls up by itself, someone will die.
Putting shoes on furniture (not with feet in them!) is another sign of death. (Ive heard this one from people who came from all over the world, from Australia to Russia - my DGM).

If you knit a sweater for your man, the relationship will not last (another international one and it's true!).

if you get dressed and put something on inside out by mistake, you will have unexpected visitors (I actually believe in that one too!).

Mama said that if you sewed on Sunday you would have to pick every stitch out with your nose when you got to heaven. This worried me until I realized I had sewn so much on Sundays that my nose was long gone!

Also "don't split the pole" means that when two are walking together and a column, sign, etc. comes between them it will break the friendship/relationship UNLESS you both say something that goes together like "bacon and eggs" or "salt and pepper."

And finally my favorite library storytelling charm which prevents nightmares. Place the shoes you wore today under the bed side by side, one going forward and the other back. No Nightmares! So many of my students rushed to school to tell me that this worked. LOL!