Old Wives Tales are fun. They make us dive deep into our imagination and belief system, questioning realism against the possibility of magic. I’ve always enjoyed listening to these stories, wondering which ones may have actually have a bit of truth lying at the center. Do you hold your breath when going by a cemetery to ward off inhaling dead spirits? Or are you careful not to drop an umbrella in the house in fear a murder will soon follow? These are two great examples of Wives Tales that people still might be weary to follow the rules of even though there is much doubt that they are actually true. We are funny in that respect; reacting to stories we hear, in fear of punishment when we disobey. Old Wives Tales can touch upon millions of aspects and items within our lives such as broken clocks, cracked mirrors and black cats walking underneath ladders. Some bring good luck and some bring bad but when faced with a choice, most likely we comply in order to reach the favorable outcome.
I, being interested in this storytelling phenomenon, wondered if Old Wives Tales might include any tidbits about flowers? Surprisingly during some recent research, I found quite a few that had to do with plant and flower varieties according to their planting, care and use. Who knew picking a bloom from a certain species during a particular time of year could result in an early divorce or landscaping your house with specific buds could send omens for future home invasions and burglary? Do these Old Wives Tales hold any water? Why don’t you read about them and decide for yourself!
Blinding Consequences for those who move Peonies
As we well know, peonies are a perennial that blooms in bush form from late May into early July (depending on the temperature). What you may have not have known is that its bad luck to move a peony plant because you might have your eyes pecked out by sharp beaks. Yes-that’s right! The peony is associated with the Greek God, Paeon who was a physician to the gods. The peony plant was his sacred flower so anyone found moving the root system was said to be attacked by violent birds. I’d say it’s okay to move a peony if you really want to in the fall but maybe it’s also wise to make sure the birdies aren’t watching you while you do it?
Love and Dandelions
How many of you as young girls picked mature dandelions and blew their soft, white seeds in the air while making a wish? It may be a memory that several of you share but did you know the number of breaths it takes to remove all of the white fluff can indicate how many years until the child will be married? Five puffs= five years, ten puffs=ten years and twenty puffs could mean twenty years of waiting before walking down the aisle!
Flowers for the Ill
This is kind of a spooky one but many people believe that bringing white flowers into a home where a person is sickly will actually speed up their death date. Creepy, huh? Varieties such as roses and ranunculus should be specifically avoided because as they come to the end of their lives, their head bends down much like an image of a person dying. To stick on the safe side- bring a mixed bouquet of colorful blooms instead.