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WotD: Old wives’ tale
Old wives’ tales are those age-old tidbits of advice passed down from generation to generation, from one grandmother to the next, future grandmother.
They are often based on superstition rather than fact and can be both amusing and confusing at the same time.
So, what exactly is an old wives’ tale?
Well, it’s a piece of folklore or superstition not backed by scientific evidence.
Old wives’ tales are often used to explain why something happens or to advise on how to prevent certain things from happening.
Here are some examples of old wives’ tales.
- If you eat a watermelon seed, a watermelon will grow in your stomach.
- If you cross your eyes, they will stay that way.
- If you step on a crack, you will break your mother’s back.
- If you pull a gray hair, two more will grow in its place.
While some old wives’ tales are harmless, others can be dangerous if taken too seriously.
For example, the tale that says you should never wake a sleepwalker is not only untrue, but it could also put the sleepwalker in harm’s way.
Despite their lack of scientific validity, old wives’ tales continue to be passed down from generation to generation.
They are often used as a way to pass on cultural traditions and beliefs.
Some people even find comfort in these tales, believing they offer protection against bad luck or evil spirits.
But why are they called old wives’ tales?
Well, the term “old wives” refers to elderly women who were often the keepers of traditional knowledge in past generations.
These women were respected for their wisdom and experience, and their advice was often sought after.
Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test
This post is understandable by someone with at least an 8th-grade education (age 13 – 14).
On the Flesch-Kincaid reading-ease test, this post scores 69.
The easier a passage is to read, the higher the score on a scale of 0 – 100.