Family Lore

[GwinCoch]

This thread is inspired by @Applebyapples - hope that’s OK! When you posted that your grandmother is horrified by pegs left on a washing line and calls it slovenly, it recalled mind a couple of bits of ‘family lore’ from my own elders and thought it might be interesting to see if there was any resonance with others here.

Nana J: Females shouldn’t drink pints, it’s unladylike.
Nana B: Central heating is unnatural. As is having a bath more than once a week.

Both ladies are deceased and have been for some time, but I remember growing up with these weird sentences bumping about in my brain. Do you have any weird lore? Guess it’s kind of ‘old wives tales’ territory?

Never put shoes on the table.

Never clean a man's shoes/boots for him.

Both from my great grandmother.

Never give a gift of a purse that's empty

Something about a coin when a gift is a knife

Saying"White rabbits" on the first of the month is good luck.

Disclaimer... my family is batshit

The shoes thing I have definitely heard but not from my family. I also abide by it weirdly!

My family is batshit too, you have reminded me. We always have to put at least a penny in the gift of a new purse/wallet/bag. And my mum does white rabbits and punches me in the arm! Sorry for being separated at birth!!

The shoes on the table thing is in the musical blood brothers (although I expect the superstition existed before that!)

Yes shoes on table, no no

Coin in a new purse given as a gift

No pram in house before baby born

Thunderstorm, open front and back door so lightning can exit the house!!!!

I’ve heard of the shoes and empty purse thing too, and I’m not British.

Also don’t give a wristwatch as a present (something about time and length of their life).

If someone asks you for water, give them it without drinking first (or you’ll be “drinking their life”, taking years off their life and adding them to your own).

Don’t sing at the dining table (something about mental health issues)

Don’t get you feet swept by a broom (if you do, no one will marry you).

My nan told me if I put salt on my dinner, I'd go bald like my grandad. She also told me that vinegar dries your blood up.

Nanny: eating in the street, smoking when not sitting down unladylike. Greying whites , leaving washing out overnight, having dirty net curtians, having no net curtains - slovenly. Going to pub alone, women swearing - vulgar and cheapened yourself

Grandmother: eating fish with milk makes your skin patchy in colour, BBC is a communist organisation, people gossiping about you will bring you bad luck so be careful what you tell people or you will make them jealous, having a boy born first is a blessing

Yes, don’t eat fish and milk in the same meal! But never knew the reason…

I never drink a pint! Always halves, my parents were publicans so I think that comes from that and obvs it’s old fashioned 😂

An empty purse must never be given or you are wishing poverty on the recipient.

Any sharp object like a knife must never be gifted or it will cut the ties between you. It must be "bought" with a coin. My grandmother once demanded a penny from me for a present of a manicure set as it had a pair of scissors in it.

Sis! 💕💕💕💕

If you drop a knife someone else must pick it up, but you mustn't thank them

Bow to the full moon 3 times

All the love!!! ❤️ ❤️ ♥️ ❤️

The giving money to a person who gives you a knife is to make sure it doesn’t ‘cut the friendship’ I believe. I gave my Uncle a pound when he got me a set of knives for my wedding!

My lunatic mother told my husband that "we never cook corn in Australia, it's just so sweet and juicy"

It's been a decade and we still cannot prepare corn without someone walking into the kitchen shouting, "Why are you cooking the corn????!"

Haha mine did this with a manicure kit too!

The shoes on the table thing makes sense. Who wants the germ covered sole of shoes on a surface where food is prepared or served. The same for handbags, the bottoms of which can be less than germ free.

My mother always said it was very bad luck to open an umbrella indoors, never understood that one.

If someone asks you for water, give them it without drinking first (or you’ll be “drinking their life”, taking years off their life and adding them to your own).

Why would I NOT drink their water knowing this, @7Worfs ?

Reverse vampire?!

I was told new shoes on the table bring bad luck (old/worn shoes on the table is just dirty!)

My mother always said it was very bad luck to open an umbrella indoors, never understood that one.

Probably because opening an umbrella in a confined space would mean something gets broken!

Yes, that was the reasoning behind it

If you are giving someone a bag or purse always put a coin in it.
Don't give knives as gifts.
When you see a single magpie you have to say 'Good morning Mr. Magpie' or you'll have bad luck.
If you see an ambulance go by you have to touch your collar.
Don't bring hawthorne flowers in the house.
Don't put an umbrella up in the house, or it you do, make sure it isn't over your head.