17 Old Wives’ Tales I Still Live By

17 Old Wives Tales I Still Live By. 

Happy Monday and welcome 2024. So how are you today? Have you had a lovely Christmas?

I love my morning walks with Murphy. An hour-long walk through the woods gets me thinking of all kinds of blog ideas.

I can imagine, I get around 10 different ideas a day spring into my head when we are out walking.

Some weird, some wonderful, some funny, and some stupid.

I really must start carrying a book around me because as quickly as one idea enters my head, it slips right back out when another idea arrives!!

17 Old Wives' Tales I Still Live By

So on this morning’s walk, I was thinking about old wives’ tales and this post came to mind that I wrote in April 2017.

I thought it could do with a makeover, and some new photos as it was feeling a little unloved!!

17 Old Wives' Tales I Still Live By

17 Old Wives’ Tales I Still Live By:

17 Old Wives’ Tales…

On one of our morning walks, back in 2017 when I was out walking with Mollie The Collie, I noticed myself thinking “Good Morning Mr Magpie how’s your wife” to a Magpie in the woods.

Just like Kayleigh from the comedy ‘Car Share’ would do!! This got me thinking of Old Wives’ Tales and how I still live by them today and now still, 6 years on!!

In the tapestry of cultural heritage and timeless wisdom, 17 Old Wives’ Tales weaves a rich narrative that transcends the bounds of generations.

These enduring anecdotes, often rooted in tradition, have proven to be more than mere relics of the past; they are threads that connect us to the collective experiences and beliefs of our ancestors.

In my own life, I find a curious blend of skepticism and adherence to 17 Old Wives’ Tales that continue to shape my daily routines.

Whether it’s the comfort of chicken soup for a cold or the insistence on not sweeping the house at night to avoid sweeping away good fortune, these tales hold a unique place in my heart.

They are a testament to the enduring power of tradition and the subtle influence of the past on our present choices.

17 Old Wives' Tales

17 Old Wives’ Tales I Still Live By:

In this fast-paced world, embracing these tales is not just a nod to nostalgia but an acknowledgment of the profound impact that ancient wisdom can still have on our lives today.

Here are some passed down through generations from my grandma and mum that I find myself saying over the years too.

Firstly, Walking Under A Ladder.

“Don’t walk under a ladder or it will cause bad luck.” Ekk I never walk under ladders. Do you?

Secondly, Find A Penny Pick It Up.

“Find a penny pick it up, all day long you will have good luck” Not that I bend down for a penny nowadays.

After all the lack of exercise I haven’t been doing lately and my age, I find it hard to bend down. Lol. Plus what is a pennyworth!? I do think it though, when I see one.

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Don’t Put New Shoes On The Table:

Thirdly, Don’t Put New Shoes On The Table.

“Don’t put new shoes on the table it gives you bad luck.”

Nooooo!!!! Also, my kids never learned this one. When I used to see my children just about to put a bag with their new shoes in on the table it is like a scene from The White Chick’s Movie.

When I run so fast across the kitchen and snatch the bag out of their hands before I fall to the floor in slow motion shouting Noooooo!!!

Fourthly, An Apple A Day.

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” So they say. I need to live by this one, now I am getting on a bit. I really need to keep the doctor away.

Fifth, Magpies, One For Sorrow: 

 One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,

Whenever I see one I am always looking for another Magpie!! Do you look for at least 2, too?

Sixth, Carrots Help You See At Night.

Carrots help you see at night. Do they, really? Or just another old wives’ tale? I tell myself they do. Then I always eat a few more!!

Seventh, Cracking Your Knuckles.

Cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis. Not sure if it does, but another one I used to tell my youngest son when he cracked his. I hope it doesn’t!?

Also, I remember cracking my knuckles and fingers when I was little. I would hate to have to go through the pain that my Mum goes through.

17 Old Wives’ Tales:

17 Old Wives’ Tales I Still Live By.

Eighth, Sitting On A Cold Floor Will Gives You Piles.

Sitting on a cold floor will give you piles. Does sitting on a cold floor really give you piles? Never sat on a cold floor because of this saying.

Ninth, You Will Catch A Cold Without A Coat.

Going out in cold weather without a coat lead to a cold. Can you get a cold from not wearing a coat?

I know I have caught a fever quite a few times when I have gone out without my coat before. I am so nesh!! So I always wear mine now!!

Tenth, You’ll Catch A Cold If You Go Out With Wet Hair.

Going out in cold weather with wet hair will lead to a cold or other illness.

Going out in cold weather without a coat or with wet hair will lead to a cold or other illness. If you go out with wet hair you will catch a death of a cold. One my grandma used to say!

Over 40 Style & Adorable Sheep At White Post Farm

Counting Sheep Will Help You To Fall To Sleep:

Eleventh, Counting Sheep Will Help You To Fall To Sleep.

Counting sheep will help you fall to sleep. Does counting sheep help you fall asleep?

I keep saying I will count them when I can not get to sleep but at the minute I fall to sleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. I love my sleep!!

Twelfth, Pull Out A Grey Hair, And 2 More Will Follow.

Pull out a grey hair, and two more will follow. Does plucking grey hairs really make more grow back in their place? Another one I believe in but will not ever do!! haha!!

Thirteenth, If You Eat The Crusts Off Your Toast/Bread Your Hair Will Go Curly.

If you eat the crust off your bread, your hair will go curly.

Eating the crust of bread will give you curly hair? I like curly hair and always wanted it but not a fan of crusts. No matter how many times I try to eat them.

Fourteenth, Left-hand Money Going Out Right Hand Money Coming In.

Left-hand money going out right-hand money coming in.

When your palms itch it means money.

An itching left palm means money to be paid out, while an itching right palm is money coming in. Never believe it if my left hand but always hope it is true when my righthand itches.

Don’t Break A Mirror Or You Will Get 7 Years Bad Luck:

Fifteenth, Don’t Break A Mirror Or You Will Get 7 Years Bad Luck.

Don’t break a mirror or you will get 7 years bad luck. Does breaking a mirror really give you 7 years of bad luck? 

Noooo, stay away from the mirror.

Sixteenth, Dandelion Will Make You Wee The Bed.

If you pick a dandelion you will wet the bed. Never pick a dandelion unless you want to wee the bed, haha!!

Seventeenth, Do Not Cut Your Fingernails On A Friday.

Cutting your nails on a Friday is unlucky.

I neverrrrrrrr cut my fingernails on a Friday. Do you?

17 Old Wives’ Tales…

Old wives’ tales are usually handed down to us from our parents/grandparents as that is where I heard them from. I am in my 50’s but I wonder how many people under this age still live by them!?

Let me know in the comments below if you have old wife’s tales. Also if you are the younger generation that uses them.

17 Old Wives' Tales 17 Old Wives' Tales I Still Live By

What I Wore:

What I Wore:

Venice Beach Swing Dress: Lindy Bop | Pink Trainers: Reebok

You can also read more about me here: Over 50s Lifestyle Blog. Thank you so much for stopping by. I also hope you liked this post. Also, follow along on Facebook for regular updates. Find me on Instagram.

17 Old Wives’ Tales I Still Live By.

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17 Old Wives' Tales

Superstitions | Traditional | Wisdom | Myths | Beliefs Cultural Heritage | Proverbs | Legends | Time-honored | Advice | Passed Down Through Generations.

Common Sayings | Popular Beliefs | Wives’ Tales | Age-old Remedies | Superstitions | Historical Advice

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Claire Justine
Claire Justine

Hi, I am Claire and I created Claire Justine in 2011. I hope you enjoy reading my posts as much as I love writing them. Please leave a comment below and share your thoughts with us.

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34 Comments

  1. 1 January 2024 / 21:30

    I do most of these too…so superstitious lol. The hand itching for money works reversed on me and when my left hand itches I get surprise money and I’ve never heard of not cutting your fingernails on Friday but I will stop doing that too… I have enough bad luck.
    Happy New Year!
    Maria

    • 25 January 2024 / 13:42

      Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment Maria. Hope your having a lovely January.

  2. Ruth
    19 December 2018 / 18:51

    Such a fun post. I enjoyed reading this.

  3. Our Fairytale Adventure
    30 July 2017 / 19:14

    This made me laugh. I do so many of these! I always tell people off when new shoes are put on the table!

  4. Stephanie Robinson
    4 May 2017 / 21:27

    I was nodding along to many of these but haven't heard of the fingernail one before – thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo

  5. Paula Rockwell
    23 April 2017 / 18:47

    Hello Claire! This is a terrific post! I have heard of most of your wives tales and actually follow a few myself. My mother always has said to never open an umbrella inside as that will give you bad luck. Awhile back one of my children opened one inside and I freaked out! And I will definitely avoid walking underneath a ladder!

    • 30 April 2017 / 07:13

      Oh yes, I remember the umbrella one too. Thanks Paula.

  6. Carol @Comfort Spring Station
    22 April 2017 / 20:03

    I read that the wive's tale about carrots was started by the British govt during WWII. They had developed radar and didn't want Germans to know so they said they feed pilots lots of carrots to improve their sight to see in the dark. Not true but they are good for you!

    • 30 April 2017 / 07:13

      Thanks for sharing Carol. I had not heard of this.

  7. Mother of 3
    22 April 2017 / 11:17

    I've heard of so many of these… but I am not good at following many of them; except walking under a ladder; I never do that!

  8. Lily Seymour
    21 April 2017 / 22:09

    Love them! My Mom always said…. "everybody can't be your friend" and that is so true!

  9. Keri Jones
    21 April 2017 / 15:58

    Never heard of the finger nails one, too funny, lol x

  10. harmskills
    21 April 2017 / 15:57

    Yes! I am very superstitious! My husband didn't believe me about the new shoes one so I looked it up and it comes from back when miners didn't return their shoes were left out something like that!!!! Thanks for hosting! Mommatogo.com

    • 24 April 2017 / 12:22

      I never knew that. One of my most followed house wife's tales too. Thanks for letting me know.

  11. csuhpat1
    21 April 2017 / 14:25

    Some of those old wives were super smart. So, it might be wise to follow them. Thanks for hosting and have a wonderful weekend.

  12. vanity andme
    21 April 2017 / 14:11

    "don't put that umbrella up indoors"!! Why would you do that anyway?? lolHave a great weekend Claire x

    • 24 April 2017 / 12:06

      Hehe, yes I remember that one now. I think my kids went to do this once when they were younger.

  13. Heather{Our Life In a Click}
    21 April 2017 / 12:57

    I knew some of these but some are new to me! I don't even think I've ever seen a Magpie! This was a fun post. Enjoy your weekend!

    • Claire
      Author
      24 April 2017 / 12:05

      Aww thanks Heather.

  14. Impulsive Artistry - Artist Charles Wolf
    21 April 2017 / 12:24

    Thank you for hosting – I don't really adhere to any of these sayings, but they are funny to read. : )

  15. Doused In Pink
    21 April 2017 / 11:15

    So fun to read these! A few of them I've never heard like don't put new shoes on the table! That scene from White Chicks cracks me up! Thank you for the linkup!JillDoused In Pink

  16. Stone Cottage Adventures
    21 April 2017 / 09:24

    'Forgot to mention I am here from Post Comment Love -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

  17. Tamar SB
    21 April 2017 / 09:11

    These are great!

  18. Stone Cottage Adventures
    21 April 2017 / 09:22

    My grandmother used to say, "Peaches, peaches. My nose itches. Here comes a man with a hole in his breeches." Thanks for hosting this great party! -Marci @ Stone Cottage AdventuresI am co-hosting a couple of link parties myself this week. If you have time, I'd love for you to join the fun at my place. No pressure, of course!

    • 24 April 2017 / 12:02

      Thnaks for stopping by Marci, I will check out your blog now.

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