Ukranian old wives

[snopes]

Comment: it's actually some "old-wives-tales" that i have some questions
about... I'm from Ukraine and my grandma is full of them so i guess i
would very much enjoy it if you can disprove her or approve of her?? here
are some that i remember:

--"do not knit or crochet while you're pregnant or your baby will have
something that is grown together" (as in his/her fingers will be all grown
together... or something to that effect)
--"don't cross the road if someone is carrying a casket"
--" don't wake the baby when he/she asleep"
--"computers, tvs and phones are dangerous for babes because they emit
radiation"
--"if you only ware one shoe something bad will happen to your mother"
--"if you whistle in the house, you're whistling your money away"
--"if you swipe the dinner table with your hand, like from bread crumbs or
ect. you will be poor"
--"don't put an empty bottle on a table, it's bad luck."
--"don't look in a broken mirror"
--"don't put your keys on a dinner table, it's bad luck."
--"don't kiss baby's feet or he/she will learn to walk late"
--"don't look at baby upside down or he/she will have cross eye"
--"don't take the trash out after the sun set, bad luck"
--"don't go to sleep as the sun is setting, or demons will take your soul"
--"don't give a watch or a clock as a present because the time of your
relationship with that person will not be long"

i have many more just can think of them at the moment...

and it's funny how you had one posted already that has been known to us in
Ukraine too about the bird in the window... that is sooooooo true...
it happened a few times: 1st. time my grandfather died very shortly after
a bird flew into our window in the kitchen.
2nd time i hit a bird driving my car, and my car got repossessed
3rd time i hit a bird driving my car and got a ticket of $160 and the man
i was to marry called off our marriage...
now i make it a point, when i see lots of birds flying around the
interstate, i honk my horn and they get out of my way

[Vinnichanka]

As a Ukrainian old wife-in-training, I have heard some of those. I polled my Mom on this as well (small sample size, I know) and she has heard of most of them as well. We have some additions to the list though:
Re: birth defects - bad things happen to those mothers who hammer in nails in the last months of pregnancy (sometimes this includes fathers as well)
Watches of any kind as presents are a huge no-no. Knives and live animals (pets) are also iffy, but one can avoid the curse by giving the giver a bit of money in return.
If someone is crossing your path with an empty bucket/trash can, you'll have bad luck (unless you wait for someone else cross the imaginary path first). A full bucket (especially water) is a very good sign.
If you dream of poo or spiders, you'll have some unexpected money coming in soon.
Paying back a debt in the evening is bad luck, but all debts have to be paid before the New Year.
Of course, we have your standard assortement of black cats, birds, broken mirrors, open umbrellas and ladders to walk under.

[charlie23]

Here's a Bulgarian Version:

--"do not knit or crochet while you're pregnant, or your family won't buy all the baby clothes.
--"don't cross the road if someone is carrying a casket, because if they're too cheap to pay for a hearse then there probably won't be any decent booze at the wake. "
--" don't wake the baby when he/she asleep, because screaming babies are a PITA."
--"computers, tvs and phones are dangerous for babes because the babes never read the manuals."
--"if you only ware one shoe your mother will be mercilessly teased for raising an idiot kid that limps."
--"if you whistle in the house, you're going to annoy everyone else. If you whistle in the office, you're going to get sued for harassment."
--"if you swipe the dinner table with your hand, like from bread crumbs or
ect. you will be poor: if you spend all your money on a portable electric breadcrumb vacuum you'll be poorer."
--"don't put an empty bottle on a table, it aggravates your guests who still want more rakia."
--"don't look in a broken mirror, it's difficult to see anything. "
--"don't put your keys on a dinner table, they'll probably get lost in the pile of dirty dishes."
--"don't kiss baby's feet or you'll have a nasty taste in your mouth."
--"don't look at baby upside down or all the blood will rush to your head. Plus the kid will always remember you as a freak."
--"don't take the trash out after the sun set, you may get mugged."
--"don't go to sleep as the sun is setting, or you'll miss the party."
--"don't give a watch or a clock as a present because the time of your
relationship with that person will not be long, and you shouldn't be spending that kind of money on people who are just going to dump you anyway."

[franjava]

Charlie, I like yours. There's a hint of reality to them! As for the op, I am the old wife of a Ukranian. I'll be sure to not pass these on to babyjava. I mean, I prefer my Irish/Scottish old wives tales!

[Mad Jay]

Originally Posted by snopes

and it's funny how you had one posted already that has been known to us in
Ukraine too about the bird in the window... that is sooooooo true...
it happened a few times: 1st. time my grandfather died very shortly after
a bird flew into our window in the kitchen.
2nd time i hit a bird driving my car, and my car got repossessed
3rd time i hit a bird driving my car and got a ticket of $160 and the man
i was to marry called off our marriage...
now i make it a point, when i see lots of birds flying around the
interstate, i honk my horn and they get out of my way

It's so funny Grandma died. I was in stitches. Good one Gramps!!

[Lainie]

--" don't wake the baby when he/she asleep"

That's not an old wives' tale, that's common sense.

[Vinnichanka]

I think they mean "don't wake up a baby when s/he is sleeping because everyone's soul travels when they're alseep, and abrupt waking will not allow the soul to return on time". And who'd want a soul-less baby?

[Tabbyclaw]

Originally Posted by Vinnichanka

And who'd want a soul-less baby?

The soul is the part with the biggest resale value!

-Tabby
the princess with claws

[mela681]

Originally Posted by snopes

--"do not knit or crochet while you're pregnant or your baby will have
something that is grown together" (as in his/her fingers will be all grown
together... or something to that effect)

Hey that one has to be true, I crocheted when I was pregnant with both of my bio kids and they both have toes that are grown together more than they should be. My mom and grandma must have crocheted while they were pregnant, too since my dad and I both have the same problem

[Seraphina]

"computers, tvs and phones are dangerous for babes because they emit
radiation"
Well, that is true, i would certainly not put baby's cot directly behind TV set or computer. And i would make sure baby is at least few feet from other appliances.

--"don't kiss baby's feet or he/she will learn to walk late"


Have to remember that one, my daughter started to walk at nine months and was handful to keep under control , will have to do lot of kissing of the grandchild

[Hacker Barbie]

I heard the ones about not whistling indoors and not giving away animals (selling them for a nominal sum is ok as Vinnichanka said).

Also, you shouldn't open umbrellas indoors for the same reason you shouldn't whistle.

[Troberg]

I heard the ones about not whistling indoors and not giving away animals (selling them for a nominal sum is ok as Vinnichanka said).

Not giving away animals is common in Sweden as well, but it's simply based on the the idea that animals are not presents or toys, and giving them away may make them end up in a home where they are not wanted and thus either not getting treated right or becoming a burden on the recipient. Having an animal is a responsibility that should not be "forced" on someone.

[Blacklight Holiday]

Boy, my demi-Ukie self feels deprived now. The only one of these my Baba used to tell me was the one about how sitting too close to the TV exposes you to radiation. Oh, and it ruins your eyes, too.

Then again, my family never seems to have put much stock in old wives tales. Too practical (or bloody-minded, take your pick).