Examine individual changes

'{{distinguish|The Old Wives' Tale (play)}} An '''old wives' tale''' is a supposed truth is actually spurious or a superstition. It 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 center on women's traditional concerns, such as [[pregnancy]], [[puberty]], [[social relations]], [[health]], [[herbalism]] and [[nutrition]]. == Origins == In this context, the word ''wife'' means "woman" rather than "married woman". This usage stems from [[Old English language|Old English]] ''{{lang|ang|{{wt|ang|wif}}}}'' ("woman") and is akin to the [[German language|German]] ''{{linktext|Weib|lang=de}}'' (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 behaviors, usually of children, or to share knowledge of [[traditional medicine|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 the [[Apostle Paul]] writing to his young protégé [[Saint Timothy|Timothy]], "But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself [rather] unto godliness" ([[I Timothy]] 4:7 [[KJV]]<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)|publisher=|accessdate=14 March 2018}}</ref>). === The oral tradition === 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 certain 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> 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> == Examples of old wives' tales == {{Refimprove section|date=October 2012}} Examples of old wives' tales include: * Masturbation will make you blind and have hairy palms. * Ice cream leads to nightmares. * Toes pointed up signify low [[blood sugar]]. * 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|publisher=|accessdate=14 March 2018|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> * [[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> * High heart rates lead to female fetuses. * Swimming with full stomach causes cramps and that one should wait an hour after eating before swimming. * Don't swallow gum or it will stay in your stomach for seven years. * Don't make silly faces or it will make the silly face permanent. * 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|accessdate=14 March 2018}}</ref> * 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?|publisher=|accessdate=14 March 2018}}</ref> * Eating crusts (of a [[sandwich bread|sandwich]]) makes your hair go curly/you grow hair on your chest. * The appearance of white spots on the fingernails ([[leukonychia]]) is due to lying or not eating enough green vegetables/calcium. * It's bad luck to open an umbrella indoors. * Nosebleeds are a sign of sexual arousal. * if in doubt spot it out. ==See also== * [[Aphorism]] * [[Fakelore]] * [[Lies-to-children]] * [[Maxim (philosophy)]] * [[Saw (saying)]] ==References== {{reflist}} {{Folklore genres}} [[Category:Urban legends]] [[Category:Public opinion]] [[Category:Folklore]] [[Category:Women's culture]]'