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{{Short description| |
{{Short description|Supposed truth that is actually spurious or a superstition}} |
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{{for|the play|The Old Wives' Tale (play)}} |
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An '''old wives' tale''' is a |
An "'''old wives' tale'''" is a colloquial expression referring to spurious or superstitious claims. They can be said sometimes to be a type of [[urban legend]], said to be passed down by older women to a younger generation. Such tales are considered [[superstition]], [[folklore]] or unverified claims with exaggerated and/or inaccurate details. Old wives' tales often centre on women's traditional concerns, such as [[pregnancy]], [[puberty]], [[social relations]], [[health]], [[herbalism]] and [[nutrition]]. |
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== Origins == |
== Origins == |
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Old wives' tales are often invoked to discourage certain behaviours, usually of children, or to share knowledge of [[traditional medicine|folk cures]] for ailments ranging from [[toothaches]] to [[dysentery]]. |
Old wives' tales are often invoked to discourage certain behaviours, usually of children, or to share knowledge of [[traditional medicine|folk cures]] for ailments ranging from [[toothaches]] to [[dysentery]]. |
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The concept of old wives' tales has existed for centuries. In 1611, the [[King James Bible]] was published with the following translation of a verse |
The concept of old wives' tales has existed for centuries. In 1611, the [[King James Version|King James Bible]] was published with the following translation of a verse: "But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself [rather] unto godliness" ([[First Epistle to Timothy|1 Timothy]] [[1 Timothy 4|4:7]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=1Ti&c=4&v=7&t=KJV#7|title=1 Timothy 4:7 (KJV)|access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Old wives' tales originate in the oral tradition of storytelling. They were generally propagated by illiterate women, telling stories to each other or to children. The stories do not attempt to moralise, but to teach lessons and make difficult concepts like death or [[coming of age]] easy for children to understand. These stories are also used to scare children so they don't do |
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These tales have often been collected by literate men and turned into written works. Fairy tales by [[Giambattista Basile|Basile]], [[Charles Perrault|Perrault]], and the [[Brothers Grimm|Grimms]] have their roots in the oral tradition of women. These male writers took the stories from women, with their plucky, clever heroines and heroes, and turned them into [[morality tale]]s for children.<ref>Zipes, Jack. ''The Trials and Tribulations of Little Red Riding Hood'', Routledge, 1993 {{ISBN|0-415-90834-5}}</ref> |
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== Examples == |
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{{More citations needed section|date=July 2020}} |
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Examples of old wives' tales include: |
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| ⚫ | Old wives' tales originate in the oral tradition of storytelling. They were generally propagated by illiterate women, telling stories to each other or to children. The stories do not attempt to moralise, but to teach lessons and make difficult concepts like death or [[coming of age]] easy for children to understand. These stories are also used to scare children so they don't do undesirable things.<ref>''The Guardian'', 15 May 2010, Greer, Germaine. "Grandmother's footsteps" http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/15/germaine-greer-old-wives-tales</ref> |
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* If you pull out a gray hair, more will take it’s place. |
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* Masturbation will make you blind and have hairy palms. |
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* Wearing eyeglasses unnecessarily could damage the eyes.<ref>https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/locations/la-crosse/services-and-treatments/ophthalmology/myths-and-facts#:~:text=Wearing%20glasses%20that%20are%20too,any%20part%20of%20the%20eye.</ref> |
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* Toes pointed up signify low [[blood sugar]]. |
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* Letting a wound "dry out" is the proper [[wound care|treatment]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/01/health/01real.html|title=The Claim: Wounds Heal Better When Exposed to Air|first=Anahad|last=O’Connor|date=1 August 2006|access-date=14 March 2018|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> |
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* [[Cracking knuckles]] gives arthritis.<ref>Swezey, Robert L., and Stuart E. Swezey. "The consequences of habitual knuckle cracking" ''Western Journal of Medicine'' 122.5 (1975): 377.</ref><ref>Unger, Donald L. "Does knuckle cracking lead to arthritis of the fingers?" ''Arthritis & Rheumatism'' 41.5 (1998): 949–950.</ref> |
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* High heart rates during pregnancy lead to female children. |
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* Swimming with full stomach causes cramps, and one should wait an hour after eating before swimming.<ref>https://theconversation.com/mondays-medical-myth-wait-30-minutes-after-eating-before-you-swim-10653#:~:text=The%20old%20saying%20that%20you,re%20at%20risk%20of%20drowning.</ref> |
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* Don't swallow gum or it will stay in your stomach for seven years.<ref>"Claim: Chewing gum takes seven years to pass through the digestive system; FALSE http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/chewgum.asp</ref> |
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* Don't make silly faces or it will make the silly face permanent. |
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* Chocolate leads to acne.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/health_articles/myth-or-fact-eating-chocolate-causes-acne|title=Blog - Duke Health|website=www.dukehealth.org|access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref> |
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* Shaving makes the hair grow back thicker.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/adult-health/expert-answers/hair-removal/faq-20058427|title=Does shaved hair grow back thicker?|access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref> |
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* Eating crusts (of a [[sandwich bread|sandwich]]) makes your hair go curly/you grow hair on your chest. |
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* The appearance of white spots on the fingernails ([[leukonychia]]) is due to lying or not eating enough green vegetables/calcium. |
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* It is somehow possible to swallow your tongue.<ref>https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/life-stages/adult-oral-care/is-swallowing-your-tongue-possible--</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[List of common misconceptions]] |
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* [[Aphorism]] |
* [[Aphorism]] |
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* [[Fakelore]] |
* [[Fakelore]] |
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* [[Lies-to-children]] |
* [[Lies-to-children]] |
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* [[Maxim (philosophy)]] |
* [[Maxim (philosophy)]] |
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* [[Saw (saying)]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Latest revision as of 17:09, 6 October 2024
An "old wives' tale" is a colloquial expression referring to spurious or superstitious claims. They can be said sometimes to be a type of urban legend, said to be passed down by older women to a younger generation. Such tales are considered superstition, folklore or unverified claims with exaggerated and/or inaccurate details. Old wives' tales often centre on women's traditional concerns, such as pregnancy, puberty, social relations, health, herbalism and nutrition.
Origins
[edit]In this context, the word wife means "woman" rather than "married woman". This usage stems from Old English wif ("woman") and is akin to the German Weib (also meaning "woman"). This sense of the word is still used in Modern English in constructions such as midwife and fishwife.
Old wives' tales are often invoked to discourage certain behaviours, usually of children, or to share knowledge of folk cures for ailments ranging from toothaches to dysentery.
The concept of old wives' tales has existed for centuries. In 1611, the King James Bible was published with the following translation of a verse: "But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself [rather] unto godliness" (1 Timothy 4:7).[1]
Old wives' tales originate in the oral tradition of storytelling. They were generally propagated by illiterate women, telling stories to each other or to children. The stories do not attempt to moralise, but to teach lessons and make difficult concepts like death or coming of age easy for children to understand. These stories are also used to scare children so they don't do undesirable things.[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "1 Timothy 4:7 (KJV)". Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- ^ The Guardian, 15 May 2010, Greer, Germaine. "Grandmother's footsteps" http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/15/germaine-greer-old-wives-tales
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