Where Did Those Old Sayings and Rituals Come From?

Where Did Those Old Sayings and Rituals Come From? - Printable Version

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Where Did Those Old Sayings and Rituals Come From? - Mystic Wanderer - 05-29-2016

Have you ever heard the term, 'piss poor'?

Back in the olden days, urine was used to tan animal hides. Every one kept a pot to pee in then sold it to the tannery. But some people were so poor, they didn't even have a pot to pee in, thus the term, 'piss poor' arose.

I remember both my Grandmothers having a large round tin can under the bed that they used during the night so they wouldn't have to go to the out-house in the dark or cold, but I don't remember anyone ever saying anything about selling their urine. I think those days were long gone.

Ever wonder why Brides carry a bouquet during a marriage ceremony?

Quote:Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June.

However, since they were starting to smell, brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor.

Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Here's another one that has survived over the years...

Quote:Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water.

The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women, and finally the children. Last of all the babies.

By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, “Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water!”

Having pork to eat was like having a delicacy, and made them feel proud. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off.

Quote:It was a sign of wealth that a man could “bring home the bacon.” They would cut off a little to share with guests, and would all sit around and “chew the fat.”

There are many more "sayings and rituals" that you can read about from the Source Article.

It is a part of our heritage, especially in the South U.S., that we need to remember. Enjoy!

RE: Where Did Those Old Sayings and Rituals Come From? - senona - 05-31-2016

Quote:Have you ever heard the term, 'piss poor'?

Back in the olden days, urine was used to tan animal hides. Every one kept a pot to pee in then sold it to the tannery. But some people were so poor, they didn't even have a pot to pee in, thus the term, 'piss poor' arose.

Thanks for that!

I hear that all the time, but never knew 'how' it cam about
Now I do.....makes sense now.

Quote:Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June.

However, since they were starting to smell, brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor.
Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Eeewww......talk about smelling 'ripe'. LOL

Pretty creative tho to come up with the bouquet idea
All just to cover up the smell of body odor (phew)

RE: Where Did Those Old Sayings and Rituals Come From? - BIAD - 06-02-2016

I used an old-saying in one the banners and I was quietly happy when Gordi flagged it up
in one of his comments.
'Shy Bairns Get Nowt'

It was used mainly in the northern regions of Great Britain and it was said to youngsters
as advice. 'Shy Bairns (Bairns=babies, young...) Get Nowt (Nowt= slang for 'Nothing')
and promotes a forcefulness when in adulthood.

Others.
'Whey, 'Ah'll gan to our back-door!' is an expression of bewilderment.
'Whey -is a form of 'Well!' -along with ''Ah'll' or 'I will' and 'gan' is 'to go'
The use of travelling to the back-door implies that a walk to ponder the situation is
needed to comprehend it's full gravity!

'He doesn't know sh*t from shinola!'
Shinola was a US brand of shoe polish and it's obvious that to mistake this substance
when shining one's footwear for bodily waste matter, is a reference to one's level of
intelligence.

'He couldn't catch a pig in a passage' refers to a bow-legged person and also hints that
a person reference as such, may not be competent in a serious situation.

'All fur coat and no knickers' is an insult to suggest that a woman who pretends she is
wealthy by sporting an expensive garment, in reality has no well-ground means of income
and is hiding it.

'Happy As Larry'
It's suggested that Australian boxer Larry Foley is the source of this catchphrase.
Foley was a successful pugilist who never lost a fight. He retired at 32 and collected a purse of
£1,000 for his final fight. During the 1870s, this was an amount that certainly would make one
happy!

Right... I'm away to clean some stuff off my shoes that I inadvertently smeared on.
Shy

RE: Where Did Those Old Sayings and Rituals Come From? - DuckforcoveR - 06-03-2016

I actually learned one without even trying. I watched "The Heart of the Sea" a month or so back with the Mrs., long story short - Moby Dick's roots.

So they are whale hunting and when they see the whales surface they yell "there she blows!".

I guess it's a common sense thing for many, but I never knew where it came from (it was always a pirate thing for me).

There She Blows Matey!