Saturday

Weirdest Wives' Tales


Weirdest Wives' Tales
(posted for the A to Z Challenge)

W is for Weird … and Wives’ Tales.

What’s an old wives’ tale?

So what’s the difference between an old wives’ tale and an urban legend? Is this anything like a fish story, a tall tale or a yarn?

Usually, an old wives’ tale involves instruction of some sort, whether true or not. Many old-time home remedies, pregnancy precautions, parenting instructions and superstitions may be traced to traditional wives’ tales.

Let’s look at some popular old wives’ tales.

  1. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
  2. Are your ears burning? If so, then someone is talking about you.
  3. Don’t cross your eyes, or they might stick like that.
  4. Don’t step on a crack, or you’ll break your mother’s back.
  5. Hold your breath, while you drive past a cemetery.
  6. If you kill a spider, it will rain.
  7. If you swallow your bubblegum, it will stay in your stomach for seven years.
  8. Open an umbrella indoors, and you will bring back luck.
  9. Sitting too close to the TV can make you go blind.
  10. Toads cause warts.

Do you believe any of these old wives’ tales?

What other old wives’ tales have you heard?
Image:
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by Camille Pissarro
1881
Public Domain – Copyright Expired

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6 comments:

  1. old wives tales can be an interesting element to add in a story.
    Great meeting you through the A-Z!

    nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  2. Lol. I think I've heard quite a few of those from my mom. She had so many of them, I'm convinced now that she made most of them up.

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  3. All of them make for a very entertaining read...:)

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  4. How about:

    Don't go swimming until 30 minutes after you eat.

    Never get wet while you're on your period. (My grandmother and ex SIL both bought into this one.)

    Don't let a baby look in a mirror or his eyes will roll to the back of his head. (My MIL chastised me about putting a mirror next to my son.)

    A cat will suck the breath from an infant.

    For menstrual cramps, sip some creme de menthe. (My mother did this with me.)

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  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. I've never heard of the spider-rain old wives tale. Fun post! ~ Angela, Whole Foods Living, http://www.wholefoodsliving.blogspot.com/

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